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Date: November 25, 2024 Mon
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Results for firearms
58 results foundAuthor: McEvoy, Claire Title: Gauging Fear and Insecurity: Perspectives on Armed Violence in Eastern Equatoria and Turkana North Summary: This study assesses actual and perceived firearm-related victimization and security threats and perceptions of insecurity in Eastern Equatoria and Turkana North, located in Africa. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, 2008 Source: HSBA Working Paper 14; Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Year: 2008 Country: Switzerland URL: Shelf Number: 116492 Keywords: Fear of CrimeFirearms |
Author: Hazen, Jennifer M. Title: Small Arms, Armed Violence, and Insecurity in Nigeria: the Niger Delta in Perspective Summary: This study discusses a number of issues in Nigeria following its return to democracy in 1999; including insecurity, armed violence, and the proliferation of illicit small arms. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, 2007 Source: Occasional Paper #20, Graduate Institute of International Studies Year: 2007 Country: Nigeria URL: Shelf Number: 116490 Keywords: Fear of CrimeFirearms |
Author: Garfield, Richard Title: Violence and Victimization after Civilian Disarmament: The Case of Jonglei Summary: This report discusses victimization findings regarding both coercive and 'voluntary' civilian disarmament in Southern Sudan following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, 2007 Source: HSBA Working Paper 11, Graduate Institute of International Studies Year: 2007 Country: Sudan URL: Shelf Number: 116489 Keywords: FirearmsVictimizationViolence |
Author: Leigh, Andrew Title: Do Gun Buybacks Save Lives? Evidence from Panel Data Summary: In 1997, Australia implemented a gun buyback program that reduced the stock of firearms by around one-fifth. Using differences across states in the number of firearms withdrawn, this study tests whether the reduction in firearms availability affected firearm homicide and suicide rates. The study found that the buyback led to a drop in the firearm suicide rates of almost 80 percent, with no statistically significant effect on non-firearm death rates. The estimated effect on firearm homicides is of similar magnitude, but is less precise. The results are robust to a variety of specification checks, and to instrumenting the state-level buyback rate. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2010. 55p. Source: Internet Resource; IZA Discussion Paper No. 4995 Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118790 Keywords: FirearmsFirearms (Australia)Gun Buyback ProgramsGun ControlHomicideSuicide |
Author: Haas, Stephen M. Title: Project Safe Neighborhoods in West Virginia: Selected Findings from Gun Crime and Domestic Violence Initiatives Summary: This report describes West Virginia's Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative aimed at reducing gun violence in local communities through coordinated strategic planning. Distinct gun violence problems were identified by West Virginia's two judicial districts and each took a slightly different approach to implementing Project Safe Neighborhoods. However, the primary intervention in each district was the development of a media campaign based on deterring gun violence through awareness of federal firearms laws. Details: Charleston, WV: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, 2007. 48p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119163 Keywords: Crime PreventionDomestic ViolenceFirearmsGun ViolenceMedia CampaignsProject Safe Neighborhoods (West Virginia) |
Author: Krkeljic, Ljiljana Title: Small Arms and Gender-Based Violence in Montenegro Summary: Data shows that the family context, otherwise a synonym for protection and safety, in some situations becomes a source of violence and violation of fundamental human rights. It is known that domestic violence usually occurs when there is a need to gain and maintain dominance and control over another human being. All the data obtained in the course of this research show that women are the primary victims of family violence, and also suffer other forms of violence outside the home. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women describes violence against women as a “manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women”. At the same time, violence is one of the “crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men.” Although domestic violence in Montenegro, just like anywhere else in the world, violates many rights protected by international human rights conventions and also constitutes a violation of domestic laws, one of the biggest obstacles in recognising family violence as a violation of human rights is the belief that “personal” bodily injuries and emotional distress suffered within one’s family are not subject to any law, be it domestic or international. This is also one of the biggest obstacles to victims seeking help and protection. Considering the fact that in such a social environment we see a willingness on the part of women to seek and receive help, the results obtained are highly relevant for understanding gender-based violence. As for domestic violence in Montenegro, defined as a pattern of abuse and use of force including threats, isolation and intimidation, the use of firearms deepens the issue of violence considerably, posing a direct threat to the life of the victim, and to her physical and mental integrity. Since it is men who mostly own arms, and judging by the statements of battered women that it is their husbands, partners, brothers and sons who threaten them with weapons, women are paying a high price for the presence of firearms in the home. Violence against women involving the use of firearms is not an inevitable phenomenon, but a result of tolerance of, and leniency and towards the issue, which is part of Montenegrinhistoric and cultural patterns. No matter what the social context of domestic violence and violence against women may be like, the presence of weapons always has the same effect – the more weapons there are, the more danger to women they pose. Montenegrin society has some serious issues to tackle in order to prevent the abuse of small arms and to curb the culture of armed violence, which is, considering the current situation (vis-a vis the presence of arms in Montenegrin homes) a highly complex task. The reasons for this lie in the immediate destructive effect of the use of firearms in violent behaviour, as well as in the socialisation effects of such patterns, which may have a trans-generational character as role models for behaviour. Awareness of the fact that armed violence poses a risk to life and health, and that the family context in which it happens does not reduce this risk, should be a high priority issue when considering strategies for the reduction of civilian possession of small arms. The pattern of keeping armed violence within the boundaries of family secrets and the traditional role of women as their guardians means that responses to violence necessitate help both for the victim and for the perpetrator. In order to develop such awareness in Montenegrin society there needs to be proper victim protection mechanisms in order to develop a sense of safety and trust in society’s response to domestic violence. Protection mechanisms would function most effectively if they operate within a multi-sectoral approach and involve various forms of protection from the police, the judiciary, and social and health care sectors at the same time as activities aimed at changing public attitudes and prejudices upon which many patterns of behaviour concerning the possession, carrying and use of arms are based. Details: Porgorica, Montenegro: United Nations Development Programme, Montenegro, 2007. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 14, 2010 at: http://www.seesac.org/uploads/Small_Arms_and_Gender-Based_Violence_in_Montenegro.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Europe URL: http://www.seesac.org/uploads/Small_Arms_and_Gender-Based_Violence_in_Montenegro.pdf Shelf Number: 120501 Keywords: Battered WomenDomestic Violence (Montenegro)FirearmsVictims of Family ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Lopez, John S. Title: Have Perceptions Changed Among Staff Regarding Parole Officers' Carrying Firearms?: A Description of Changes in Safety Perceptions and Supervisory Styles at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division Summary: The purpose of this research is threefold. The first purpose is to describe the changes in safety perceptions of Parole Division staff since the implementation of the firearms policy within the division. The second purpose is to explore possible changes in supervisory style since the implementation of the firearms policy ( Welebob 1998). The third purpose is to determine possible changes in staff safety perceptions since Welebob’s findings. The survey method was used to analyze the possible changes in safety perceptions and supervisory styles. The sampling frame consisted of 347 Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division staff members. Overall, there were no major changes in safety perceptions and supervisory styles among carriers, non-carriers, and support staff since Welebob’s 1998 study. Details: San Marcos, TX: Applied Research Projects, Texas State University - San Marcos, 2007. 137p. Source: Internet Resource: Paper 205: Accessed March 9, 2011 at: http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/205 Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/205 Shelf Number: 120962 Keywords: FirearmsParole Officers (Texas)Parole SupervisionParolees |
Author: Krouse, William J. Title: Gun Control Legislation Summary: Congress has debated the efficacy and constitutionality of federal regulation of firearms and ammunition, with strong advocates arguing for and against greater gun control. The tragic shootings in Tucson, AZ, on January 8, 2011, in which six people were killed and 13 wounded, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, could prompt the 112th Congress to examine issues related to the shooter’s mental illness and drug use and his use of large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFDs) (see H.R. 308 and S. 32), as well as a proposal to ban firearms within the proximity of certain high-level federal officials (see H.R. 496). This report provides basic firearms-related statistics, an overview of federal firearms law, and a summary of legislative action in the 111th Congress and selected legislative action in the 110th Congress that involved issues revisited in the 111th Congress. The report concludes with a discussion of other salient issues that have generated significant congressional interest in the past, including the 1994-2004 LCAFD ban. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2011 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32842.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32842.pdf Shelf Number: 120963 Keywords: FirearmsGun Control Policy (U.S.)Gun ViolenceGuns |
Author: United Nations. Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) Title: Preventing Firearms Proliferation and Armed Violence in Educational Centres of Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: Latin America and the Caribbean is considered to be one of the most violent regions in the world accounting for nearly 42% of annual global homicides. The impact of armed violence on youth is particularly dramatic. In the Caribbean, for example, violence is the leading cause of death among youth and adolescents aged 15-24. There are over 100 million adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age in the region; hardship affects these youth disproportionately with an average of 39% living in poverty. UNICEF has identified two forms of violence in Latin America and the Caribbean that warrant increased attention: gang-related violence linked to the drug trade; and violence in schools. The phenomenon of violence in schools has also gained increased attention in Latin America and the Caribbean in recent years. In Brazil, 84% of students in 143 schools in the capitals of six states consider their school to be violent and 70% admits to having been victims of violence at school. The threat and actual use of firearms in schools have received less specific attention, but now constitutes a substantial and growing challenge to the physical and psychological security of children and educators in Latin America and the Caribbean. Approximately 1.3% of students in Argentina has taken a revolver or pistol to school, according to the Ministry of Education of that country. In 2007, 69 firearms were confiscated by educational authorities in Colombian schools. In Brazil, a UNESCO survey conducted in 2000 reported that 13% of school students had witnessed the presence of firearms on campus. Furthermore, 14% claimed to have easy access to a firearm in their school and its surroundings, and 4% claimed to have brought one to school. In El Salvador, 42 weapons, including guns and grenades, were seized from schools and their immediate surroundings in 2005. In Mexico, 55% of students in Mexico City believes some of their fellow students bring firearms to school. 46 incidents of gun violence in schools and communities were reported in Puerto Rico during 2007. A 2003 representative sample survey of school children in nine Caribbean countries found that one fifth of the males carried weapons to school during the previous 30-day period. UNLIREC staff - undertaking a brief review of online newspaper archives - identified at least 51 reported instances of firearm possession and the death or wounding of 43 individuals from accidental or intentional shootings in Latin America and Caribbean educational centres between 2000 and 2010. Whilst these are only a few examples collected on an ad hoc basis, their sum is suggestive as to the unmeasured scale and severity of armed violence in Latin American and Caribbean schools. The true extent and nature of the problem is difficult to gauge as centralized reporting systems and data sets for these incidents do not exist. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the extent of unreported or undiscovered armed violence in schools may be significant. Details: Lima, Peru: United Nations, 2011. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed September 7, 2011 at: http://www.unlirec.org/Documents/Armed_Violence_in_Schools.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Central America URL: http://www.unlirec.org/Documents/Armed_Violence_in_Schools.pdf Shelf Number: 122674 Keywords: Armed ViolenceFirearmsHomicidesSchool Violence (Latin America and the Caribbean)Violent CrimeWeapons |
Author: Gilgen, Elisabeth Title: Contributing Evidence to Programming: Armed Violence Monitoring Systems Summary: Governments, development practitioners, and United Nations agencies are increasingly looking for ways to ensure that resources for development programmes and humanitarian interventions are used effectively and to support interventions with a proven record of success. Such evidence-based policy-making has also gained popularity in relation to the prevention and reduction of armed violence. To support this trend, practitioners and other stakeholders are establishing new mechanisms and research tools, including armed violence monitoring systems (AVMS). In the past few decades, AVMS have become an important tool to better understand the scale and distribution of armed violence. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) currently supports AVMS in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Caribbean, Colombia, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Somalia, South-eastern and Eastern Europe, and Sudan. UNDP has observed that national governments are increasingly requesting support for AVMS. This Working Paper — commissioned by the UNDP — aims to clarify the concept of AVMS and to deepen understanding of their work. It is designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners who are working on violence reduction and prevention and who are interested in supporting or establishing an AVMS. The report will also allow experts who are already engaged in AVMS to compare their experiences with those of others. Last but not least, the paper aims to inform researchers and academics who work on developing indicators that capture the scale and scope of armed violence at a local, national, or global level. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva Declaration, 2011. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed September 12, 2011 at: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/general/GD-WP-2011-Contributing-Evidence-to-Programming.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/general/GD-WP-2011-Contributing-Evidence-to-Programming.pdf Shelf Number: 122720 Keywords: Armed ViolenceFirearmsGun ViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: Leyton-Brown, Ken Title: Understanding the Circumstances Surrounding the Use of Firearms by Police Officers that result in Death or Serious Injury to a Subject in the Community: A Literature Review Summary: The study of police use of force, and especially the use of deadly force, has been dominated by American researchers, whose interest developed primarily in response to violence associated with the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States. The increasing power and reach of news media (and the entertainment industry) ensured that this interest soon spread to other English-speaking parts of the world, especially when sparked by local provocations such as particularly notorious incidents of police use of force or perceptions of high numbers of civilian deaths. Studies have now been undertaken in a number of jurisdictions, and a body of sound research is forming. This literature review is a focused meta-analysis on the extant literature concerning the topics outlined in the objectives: the factors associated with the police discharge of firearms that result in death or serious injury to the subject, and the best practices incorporated to reduce the likelihood of these events occurring. Literature specific to the Canadian context was very limited. Most of the available research in this field was conducted in the U.S.A. a location originally omitted from this review. The authors are aware of the possible cultural issues that can arise with the inclusion of research based in areas that might be significantly different than that of Saskatchewan: specifically, very large urban centers in the United States. However, it was deemed necessary to expand the review to include literature from the U.S.A, given its overall contribution to the literature in general, as well as the observation that much of the US-based research was cited as foundational to research conducted in other locations. Early work, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, sought to identify factors that would help explain police use of excessive force and use of deadly force whether excessive or not, and to use this to knowledge to change practice and policy in ways that would reduce the inappropriate or undesirable use of force. A number of early studies appeared to produce promising results, with the consequence that a number of officer characteristics, suspect/opponent characteristics, and situational characteristics were identified and came to be widely accepted as crucial; these were soon joined by a range of organizational characteristics, extending from police culture to policies and procedures. However, the confidence of those days gradually evaporated, as early results proved not to be robust – i.e. were not duplicated in subsequent studies – and methodological weaknesses in many of the foundational studies became apparent – either because of the recognition of design flaws in earlier research or because of the over-reliance on bivariate analysis, rather than on multivariate analysis, in those same studies (and, indeed, in social science research generally during that period). The result was that many widely-accepted truths were revisited, and by the 1990s many of them had been if not discarded, at least cast into doubt. The era of re-thinking has, however, produced a better understanding of how complex use of force incidents are, and the need for more rigorously designed programs of research in future. Recent research has identified comparatively few officer characteristics as relevant to use of deadly force, and have eliminated such likely candidates as race and ethnicity. Very interesting is the finding that training really works – which is why, for example, race is not a factor in police use of deadly force and why the handling of “domestic” calls (always potentially explosive) does not lead to more fatalities – and this suggests that additional training initiatives, targeted at reducing officer surprise and acceleration in use of force and at encouraging deceleration in the use of force, has the potential to result in fewer and less serious use of force incidents generally. The existence of a class of officer that is prone to the use of force suggests that more effective screening of applicants and monitoring of serving officers is needed. Work in the area of suspect/opponent characteristics has shown, not surprisingly, that armed and physically aggressive people are more likely to provoke police use of force. Of greater interest, with respect to reducing use of force, are two other groups: the first is those whose demeanour alone is seen by officers as objectionable, and who are for that reason alone more likely to be targets of use of force. The second is the potentially very large group of people who by reason of mental impairment or as a result of use of alcohol or drugs are more likely to be targets of use of force, or who may actually seek to be targets of use of force. It would appear that purpose-designed training initiatives could go some way toward addressing problems in dealing with these two groups. Study of situational characteristics shows that the use of force, including use of deadly force, is more likely in some types of situation than in others: specifically, this is true of arrests, but more generally is it true of any situation that results in an element of surprise or one in which an officer does not feel in “control”. The success of training in reducing the frequency and amount of force used when dealing with domestic complaints suggests that training can be of help in other areas as well. Defining what it means to be in control of a situation is also important. Serious study of incidents that do not result in use of force – rather than focussing only on incidents that do – is likely to suggest better training methods, and procedures that are less likely to lead to use of force. Research shows that organizational characteristics are very important determinants of use of force, and are amenable to change. Factors of interest that have been identified within this large category range from aspects of police culture, including such things as an internal culture that excessively values physical assertiveness and bravery, and discourages giving reports that are unfavourable to fellow officers, through to policies and procedures, including such things as the need for better reporting and investigation of incidents of use of force, careful consideration of the desirability (or not) of adopting use of force continua and of how they are used, and even the potential problems when employing single officer patrols. Based on the information uncovered in the literature review there are a number of possible avenues for research: (1) A trend analysis of the application of deadly force by officers in Canada (on-going), (2) A review of the independent investigations undertaken by the province of Saskatchewan into officer-involved shootings in Saskatchewan, (3) A review of Coroner’s inquests into deadly force incidents in Western Canada, and (4) An examination of the policies and procedures in Saskatchewan surrounding the use of force by officers. Each of these proposed studies has the potential to further the knowledge about the subject matter and help inform policy decisions. It should be noted that the following recommendations are limited by virtue of the limited awareness of authors of this literature review as to what data sources are available at the current time within the Saskatchewan context. Details: Regina, SK, Canada: Saskatchewan Department of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2011 at: http://www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca/LiteraturereviewAugust20.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca/LiteraturereviewAugust20.pdf Shelf Number: 122957 Keywords: FirearmsPolice Use of Force (Canada) |
Author: Cramer, Clayton E. Title: Tough Targets: When Criminals Face Armed Resistance from Citizens Summary: The ostensible purpose of gun control legislation is to reduce firearm deaths and injuries. The restriction of access to firearms will make criminals unable to use guns to shoot people. Gun control laws will also reduce the number of accidental shootings. Those are the desired effects, at least in theory. It is important, however, for conscientious policymakers to consider not only the stated goals of gun control regulations, but the actual results that they produce. What would be the effect of depriving ordinary, law-abiding citizens from keeping arms for self-defense? One result seems certain: the law-abiding would be at a distinct disadvantage should criminals acquire guns from underground markets. After all, it is simply not possible for police officers to get to every scene where they are urgently needed. Outside of criminology circles, relatively few people can reasonably estimate how often people use guns to fend off criminal attacks. If policymakers are truly interested in harm reduction, they should pause to consider how many crimes—murders, rapes, assaults, robberies—are thwarted each year by ordinary persons with guns. The estimates of defensive gun use range between the tens of thousands to as high as two million each year. This paper uses a collection of news reports of self-defense with guns over an eight-year period to survey the circumstances and outcomes of defensive gun uses in America. Federal and state lawmakers often oppose repealing or amending laws governing the ownership or carrying of guns. That opposition is typically based on assumptions that the average citizen is incapable of successfully employing a gun in self-defense or that possession of a gun in public will tempt people to violence in “road rage” or other contentious situations. Those assumptions are false. The vast majority of gun owners are ethical and competent. That means tens of thousands of crimes are prevented each year by ordinary citizens with guns. Details: Washington, DC: CATO Institute, 2012. 58p. Source: White Paper: Internet Resource: Accessed on February 3, 2012 at http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/WP-Tough-Targets.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/WP-Tough-Targets.pdf Shelf Number: 123938 Keywords: Armed ViolenceFirearmsGun ControlGun ViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: Scambury, James Title: Groups, gangs, and armed violence in Timor-Leste Summary: Armed groups and gangs are not a new phenomenon in Timor-Leste, but evolved from clandestine resistance groups during the Indonesian colonial period to a heterogeneous multitude of collectives, including disaffected veterans, clandestine groups, political fronts, martial arts groups (MAGs), village-based gangs, youth collectives, and security organizations. Nine years after the end of the Indonesian occupation, the fact that gangs have diversified and multiplied is a testament to a range of social tensions in Timorese society and the continued weakness of the state and its institutions. During the occupation these groups protected their communities from Indonesian security forces and the latter’s proxies; now they protect their communities from one another. This Issue Brief reviews the presence and roles of gangs in Timor-Leste. In doing so, it examines their recent growth, the threats they pose, and their use of and access to weapons, in particular small arms. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Timor-Leste Armed Violence Assessment, Small Arms Survey, 2009. 8p. Source: TLAVA Issue Brief No. 2: Internet Resource: Accessed on February 3, 2012 at http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-IB2-ENGLISH.pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-IB2-ENGLISH.pdf Shelf Number: 123947 Keywords: Armed ViolenceFirearmsGangs (Timor-Leste)VigilantismViolent Crime |
Author: Parker, Sarah Title: Handle with Care: Private Security Companies in Timor-Leste Summary: In the wake of several highly publicized and troubling incidents involving private security companies (PSCs) in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, scholars and the media have increasingly focused on the role of PSCs in providing security in conflict and post-conflict settings. Th international debate surrounding the engagement of private security providers is becoming increasingly important in Timor-Leste, where two developments have influenced the local discussion. Firstly, the number of PSCs operating in Timor-Leste has increased since independence. Secondly, the government is considering legislation authorizing non-state security personnel (and other civilians) to carry and use firearms in the course of their duties. In parallel with the debate on the roles and regulation of private security providers, there is an emerging body of standards and best practices covering the activities of security firms, many of which originate within the industry itself. These standards should inform the development of regulations and/or codes of conduct governing the selection, licensing, and activities of private security personnel in Timor-Leste. The use of arms by private security personnel poses special challenges for Timor-Leste, where government capacity to appropriately regulate, monitor, and enforce weapons possession laws remains in question. If the Timorese government does proceed to adopt legislation allowing private security personnel to carry and use firearms, strong regulations should be carefully considered, such as strict restrictions on carrying and a prohibition on storing guns at home after hours. The aims of this paper are to: explore what is meant by 'private security' and the status of private security personnel; provide an overview of the PSCs operating in Timor-Leste; analyse efforts to regulate the private security industry at the national and international levels, with a special focus on the access to and use of arms by private security personnel; and explore some of the negative impacts of the use of armed private security in other countries. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Timor-Leste Armed Violence Assessment, Small Arms Survey, Undated. 19p. Source: TLAVA Publication: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2012 at http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-Private-Security-Companies.pdf Year: 0 Country: International URL: http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-Private-Security-Companies.pdf Shelf Number: 123949 Keywords: FirearmsGun ControlPrivate Security (Timor-Leste)Weapons |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Model Law against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition Summary: The Firearms Model Law has been developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to assist States in implementing the provisions contained in the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. By distinguishing between mandatory and optional provisions, and suggested provisions stemming from other legal instruments, the Model Law offers flexible solutions adaptable to the needs of each State, whatever its legal tradition and social, economic, cultural and geographical conditions. The Model Law is a voluntary tool, which requires careful adaptation to the specific domestic legal systems in which it is supposed to operate. Details: Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2011. 182. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2012 at http://www.unodc.org/documents/legal-tools/Model_Law_Firearms_Final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/legal-tools/Model_Law_Firearms_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 124568 Keywords: Arms TraffickingFirearmsGunsLegislation |
Author: United Nations Development Program - San Salvador Title: Regional Forum for the Exchange of Experiences in the Prevention and Control of Armed Violence Summary: Violence is a complex problem, which is influenced by many different factors, among which are firearms. Although these firearms do not generate violence, there is no doubt that they greatly contribute to their deadliness. Approximately 300,000 people die each year in the world because of firearms, according to a report from Small arms Survey (2204). Of those, more than 200,000 are the product of violence and delinquency. Latin America, with almost 48% of the total, is at the head of the distressing world ranking of homicides caused by firearms. Numbers are not very encouraging for El Salvador: To date this year, an average of 12 persons dies every day because of violence. Of those, 10 have been murdered with a firearm, according to official data. Violence and the proliferation of firearms have direct consequences on the life quality of Salvadorans and a marked impact on the economy and development of the country. They generate direct and indirect costs for everyong, discourage capital investment and have an evident impact on the economy, governance and human development. A key factor in the prevention violence, delinquency and insecurity is to promote the control of the free distribution, and the reduction of firearms use by the civilian population. The Regional Forum for the Exchange of Experiences in the Prevention and Control of Armed Violence was held in San Salvador, on August 10 and 11 with the purpose of gathering international experts and representatives from diverse organizations and institutions in one place to work on the prevention and control of firearms in Latin America. Four international specialists delivered several magisterial conferences, which are presented in part one of this publication. Part two of the publication assembles the transcriptions of the expositions that representatives of diverse organizations and institutions in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Brazil, and El Salvador prepared regarding international, national and regional initiatives and projects related with the prevention and control of firearms. Details: San Salvador, El Salvador: United Nations Development Programe, 2006. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2012 at http://www.pnud.org.sv/2007/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=202&Itemid=56 Year: 2006 Country: Central America URL: http://www.pnud.org.sv/2007/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=202&Itemid=56 Shelf Number: 126087 Keywords: Armed ViolenceFirearmsHomicidesViolent Crimes |
Author: Violence Policy Center Title: "Never Walk Alone" How Concealed Carry Laws Boost Gun Industry Sales Summary: The lethal shooting of unarmed, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by concealed handgun permit holder George Zimmerman is the predictable result of an aggressive decades-long campaign by the National Rifle Association (NRA) to promote lax concealed carry laws and attendant "Shoot First" laws that boost gun industry sales according to a new Violence Policy Center (VPC) report, “Never Walk Alone”--How Concealed Carry Laws Boost Gun Industry Sales." Faced with a decades-long decline in household gun ownership, the firearms industry has worked to exploit these NRA-backed laws to re-sell old customers and entice new ones. While in their public promotion of lax concealed weapons laws the gun lobby and gun industry rarely mention the financial benefits such laws afford gun sellers, in industry publications they are far more open. Included in the VPC report are numerous color examples of gun industry advertisements representing a wide range of manufacturers. An ad that appeared in the December 2011 issue of Gun World encapsulates the mindset of concealed carry: "Regardless of your location, your dress or the season, NO gun is easier to carry or conceal than a North American Arms mini-revolver. Is it an effective deterrent? Would you want to be shot with one?" The ad warns the reader "don’t leave home without one" and adds, "Remember Rule #1: Have a gun!" The study notes that despite the national controversy over the death of Trayvon Martin, the U.S. Senate may soon take up legislation that would expand the rights of concealed carry vigilantes like George Zimmerman to carry their handguns outside their home states and across the nation. Two bills (S. 2188 and S. 2213) have recently been introduced that would significantly expand the ability of concealed carry permit holders to carry their loaded guns nationwide. The study concludes that "while pro-gun advocates will inevitably voice their support of these bills in terms of self-defense and individual rights, truly the greatest beneficiary of national concealed carry stands to be the gun industry." Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2012. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2012 at http://www.vpc.org/studies/ccwnra.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/ccwnra.pdf Shelf Number: 126929 Keywords: Concealed Carry PermitsConcealed WeaponsFirearmsGun SalesGuns |
Author: Sugarmann, Josh Title: Assault Pistols: The Next Wave Summary: Not since the late 1980s and early 1990s has there been such a wide variety of assault pistols available for sale on the U.S. civilian market warns the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) study Assault Pistols: The Next Wave (http://www.vpc.org/studies/awpistols.pdf). The study contains more than 20 examples of assault pistols currently marketed in the United States, led by AK-47 and AR-15 pistols that offer assault rifle power in a compact pistol format. Each of the assault pistols detailed in the study would be banned by legislation introduced last week by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The study notes that in addition to next-generation AK-47 and AR-15 assault pistols, assault pistols that were banned by name under the now-expired federal assault weapons ban, such as the UZI pistol, MAC, and Calico, are also being marketed. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2013 at: http://www.vpc.org/studies/awpistols.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/awpistols.pdf Shelf Number: 127576 Keywords: Assault WeaponsFirearmsGun ViolenceGuns |
Author: Violence Policy Center Title: Bullet Buttons The Gun Industry’s Attack on California’s Assault Weapons Ban Summary: California’s assault weapons ban—the toughest in the nation—is under attack by America’s gun industry. Following a series of high-profile mass shootings in the 1980s and 1990s, California led the nation in protecting its citizens from the proliferation of military-style assault weapons. Assault weapons are a discrete class of firearm that incorporate specific design characteristics to enhance lethality. Civilian assault weapons are derived from their full-auto military counterparts developed by the Nazis during World War II to allow German soldiers to spray a wide geographic area with bullets to combat advancing troops. Chief among the characteristics that make assault weapons so lethal compared to other firearms is their ability to accept a detachable, high-capacity ammunition magazine, which, after being emptied, can be replaced with a new fully-loaded ammunition magazine in seconds. In 1989, California passed the Roberti-Roos Act, the first statewide law in the nation designed to ban assault weapons. Soon after its passage however, the firearms industry made minor cosmetic changes to many banned assault weapons—evading the intent of the law and allowing their continued sale. In 1999, after intense media attention, California legislators moved to update the law to address the industry’s actions. Now, the gun industry is once again working to undermine California’s assault weapons ban. And if no action is taken by California policymakers to address this newest attack, the state’s longstanding ban on assault weapons will be eviscerated. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2012. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2013 at: http://www.vpc.org/studies/bulletbuttons.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/bulletbuttons.pdf Shelf Number: 127581 Keywords: Assault WeaponsFirearmsGun ControlGun ViolenceGuns (California) |
Author: Mkutu, Kennedy Title: Policing the Periphery: Opportunities and Challenges for Kenya Police Reserves Summary: More than 80 per cent of Kenya consists of arid and semi-arid lands and across much of this area the main visible security force is not the police, but the Kenya Police reservists (KPRs). The Kenya Police Reserve (KPR) is an auxiliary force detached from the Kenya Police Service and is made up of volunteers operating within their own localities. KPRs are armed by the state to supplement the role of the police in providing security where police presence is low. They often guard pastoralist cattle kraals (enclosures) and move with cattle caravans to protect them against raids by other pastoral groups. Locals have mixed opinions as to the value of KPRs. For many they provide an important first response to insecurity in remote communities where there is heavy reliance on their local knowledge and ability to operate in harsh climates and over difficult terrain, and to provide security against resource-based conflicts and cattle raiding. A Turkana-based Catholic priest remarked: In urban areas they do the arrests and they are used by police on most missions. In some areas they act as spies for the police and General Service Unit. In the conflicts between Turkana and Merille and Turkana and Nyangatom they fight on the front line. They are acting as kraal scouts, animals scouts, [and] spies, and inform police patrol[s], but they are unpaid. For others they are a source of insecurity through firearms misuse, poor training and supervision, a lack of operational policy or governance, and an absence of any formal compensation mechanisms for any misdeeds they may commit or damage they may cause. This paper examines the various opportunities and challenges facing the KPRs in Kenya’s Turkana and Laikipia counties, and considers in particular the management and control of reservists’ firearms, given the wider problems of arms control and insecurity in Kenya’s peripheral areas. It seeks to relate the changing economic environment in rural parts of these counties to the evolving role of the KPRs. The paper highlights how each distinct context (Turkana with its natural resource economy and Laikipia with its conservation tourism industry) is adapting the KPRs’ traditional role. These new roles, as we shall see, are not always positive. Economic pressure, competition for resources (both natural and technical), weak or non-existent operational policy, a lack of oversight or governing structure, the attraction of secondary employment, and the constant flow of destabilizing small arms from neighbouring conflict zones are straining the KPR towards breaking point. Firearm misuse and criminal behaviour by KPRs are exacerbating tensions in Kenya’s remote rural regions. This paper will argue that without the immediate implementation of operational and small arms controls, the KPR risks evolving into armed militia groups. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Small Arms Survey, 2013. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 15: Accessed March 5, 2013 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP15-Kenya-Policing-the-Periphery.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Kenya URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP15-Kenya-Policing-the-Periphery.pdf Shelf Number: 127840 Keywords: Cattle RaidsCattle TheftFirearmsPolicing (Kenya)Weapons |
Author: Krouse, William J. Title: Terrorist Watch List Screening and Background Checks for Firearms Summary: The November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, TX, renewed interest in terrorist watchlist screening and background checks for firearms through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (P.L. 103-159), in November 1998 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) activated NICS for the purposes of determining an individual’s firearms transfer and possession eligibility whenever a private person seeks to acquire a firearm from a federally licensed gun dealer. Prior to February 2004, however, the FBI did not conduct terrorist watchlist queries as part of firearms background checks because being a known or suspected terrorist was not a disqualifying factor for firearms transfer and possession eligibility; nor is it today under current law. Similarly, the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombing could generate renewed interest in terrorist watchlist screening, because at least one of the alleged perpetrators was possibly entered into the National Counterterrorism Center’s (NCTC’s) Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE). As a consequence, he was possibly watch-listed in the FBI-led Terrorist Screening Center’s Terrorist Screening Database—the U.S. government’s master watchlist of known and suspected terrorists. In addition, on April 18, 2013, both alleged perpetrators—Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev—are further alleged to have shot and killed a police officer, high-jacked an automobile and taken its owner hostage at gunpoint, and engaged in a subsequent shootout with police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is tracing a pistol recovered at the scene of the shootout. If the watch-listed brother, Tamerlan, had acquired the pistol from a federally licensed gun dealer, it might have generated a terrorist watchlist hit through NICS. Critics could argue that watchlist hits through NICS, or border and aviation security screening systems, might have prompted federal investigators to scrutinize Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s travels and activities more closely prior to the bombing. As described in this report, moreover, a NICS-generated watchlist match might have prevented him from acquiring the pistol. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. government reevaluated its terrorist screening procedures. As part of this process, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI modified the Brady background check procedures and recalibrated NICS to query an additional file in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) that included terrorist watchlist records. Since February 2004, information related to the subjects of NICS-generated terrorist watchlist matches have been passed on to the FBI Counterterrorism Division and special agents in the field, who are usually members of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs). These FBI agents, in turn, verify the match between the individual and the watchlist record, and they check for information that would prohibit that individual, the prospective transferee, licensee, or permittee, from possessing firearms or explosives (e.g., illegal immigration or fugitive status). While the modified NICS procedures initially generated little public opposition, those procedures called three possible issues into question. One, should terrorist watchlist checks be incorporated statutorily into the firearms- and explosives-related background check processes? Two, given certain statutory prohibitions related to prohibiting a firearms registry, should approved firearm transfer records be maintained on a temporary basis to determine whether persons of interest in counterterrorism investigations have obtained firearms? Three, should the Attorney General be granted authority to deny a firearms transfer based solely on a terrorist watchlist match? Since the 109th Congress, several related legislative proposals have been introduced. Several of those bills would have addressed the retention of firearms-related transfer records. Another proposal would have prohibited persons watch-listed as terrorists for aviation security purposes on the “No Fly” list from firearms transfer or possession eligibility. In the 110th Congress, Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Peter King introduced a bill based on a legislative proposal developed by DOJ that would have authorized the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms (and explosives) licenses/permits to “dangerous terrorists” (S. 1237/H.R. 2074). In the 111th Congress, they reintroduced this bill (S. 1317/H.R. 2159), which supporters dubbed the “Terror Gap” proposal. In the 112th Congress, they introduced similar bills (S. 34 and H.R. 1506). And, in the 113th Congress they reintroduced their bills (S. 34 and H.R. 720) once more. When the Senate considered the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 (S. 649) in April 2013, Senator Lautenberg also filed an amendment (S.Amdt. 734) to that bill, which is nearly identical to S. 34. While the Senate leadership set S. 649 aside, if the Senate reconsiders this bill, it might also consider S.Amdt. 734. In addition, Representative James Moran has included similar provisions in the NRA Members’ Gun Safety Act of 2013 (H.R. 21). The Terror Gap proposal raises several potential issues for Congress. One, should the Attorney General notify watch-listed individuals who have been deemed to be “dangerous terrorists” for the purposes of gun control? Two, what form of redress and/or remedy would be provided to individuals wrongfully denied a firearm transfer because they were misidentified, or improperly watch-listed, and then deemed to be a “dangerous terrorist”? Three, if enacted, would such a law draw unwanted attention to related terrorist screening procedures, possibly undermining the effectiveness of these procedures by making terrorists and other adversaries aware of them, and possibly setting a judicial review precedent for other terrorist watchlist screening processes? Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: R42336: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=736360 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=736360 Shelf Number: 128858 Keywords: Background ChecksFirearmsHomeland SecurityTerrorismTerrorists (U.S.) |
Author: Nunn, Samuel Title: The TriggerPro Gun Swab Evaluation: Comparing the Use of a Touch DNA Collection Technique to Firearm Fingerprinting Summary: From July 2008 through August 2009, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) patrol officers in the East District were supplied with pre-packaged kits, known as TriggerPro ID, for use in collecting possible DNA samples from firearms encountered or confiscated during traffic stops or in response to other criminal incidents. TriggerPro gun swab kits are an example of “touch DNA” technology, which is an evidence gathering approach that attempts to collect viable DNA samples from small quantities of skin cells that remain after an individual has touched objects or places. The traditional method of gathering touch DNA evidence involves using a sterile swab moistened by distilled water. The pilot project was designed to examine the effectiveness of swabbing firearms to collect DNA samples capable of connecting individuals to firearms. The evaluation of TriggerPro is based on a comparison of two forensic methods: fingerprinting firearms versus collecting touch DNA samples from firearms using TriggerPro gun swabs. CCJR evaluation findings are summarized in this report. Details: Indianapolis: Center for Criminal Justice Research, Indiana University, 2010. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: https://archives.iupui.edu/handle/2450/5123 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: https://archives.iupui.edu/handle/2450/5123 Shelf Number: 129541 Keywords: DNA FingerprintingDNA TypingFirearmsGuns |
Author: Buck, Sarah A. Title: Teachers with Guns: Firearms Discharges by Schoolteachers, 1980 – 2012 Summary: Following the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association proposed arming schoolteachers as a means of confronting and preventing such tragedies. The Center’s study identifies 30 instances prior to the proposal that involve a schoolteacher discharging his/her weapon, though not necessarily on school grounds. Most incidents involved intentional, unlawful discharges. Details: Minneapolis, MN: Center for Homicide Research, 2013. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: http://homicidecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Teachers-with-Guns-RESEARCH-REPORT-FINAL1.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://homicidecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Teachers-with-Guns-RESEARCH-REPORT-FINAL1.pdf Shelf Number: 129632 Keywords: FirearmsGunsSchool Safety |
Author: Campo, Joe Title: Firearm Deaths in Washington State Summary: Mass murders - senseless semi-automatic assault-style rifle attacks in movie theaters, shopping malls and even elementary schools - have, sadly, become staples on the evening news. Seemingly before one town's mourning can come to a close, another town's begins anew. And yet the dark shadows cast by these horrific events may cloak other equally senseless - and much more prevalent - firearm-related deaths. In this research brief, we examine firearm deaths by magnitude and intent, gender and age, race and ethnicity, and by regional and small areas. We also identify potential risk factors, compare Washington's rates with those in British Columbia and our nation, and assess the trend in hand gun purchases within our state. Broadly we find that contrary to the general public's perception, firearm deaths are more of a rural than urban blight, and the victims are, in fact, overwhelmingly themselves the perpetrators. We also find that while males are more likely to be killed by a firearm than are females, it is the elderly males (those ages 65 and older) who have the highest rates of all. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Office of Financial Management, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief No. 71: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/researchbriefs/2013/brief071.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/researchbriefs/2013/brief071.pdf Shelf Number: 132709 Keywords: Crime StatisticsFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceGunsHomicidesMass Murders |
Author: Krouse, William J. Title: Gun Control Legislation in the 113th Congress Summary: Congress has debated the efficacy and constitutionality of federal regulation of firearms and ammunition, with strong advocates arguing for and against greater gun control. The mass shooting in Newtown, CT, along with other mass shootings in Aurora, CO, and Tucson, AZ, restarted the national gun control debate. The Senate had considered a range of legislative proposals, including several that President Barack Obama supports as part of his national gun violence reduction plan. The most salient of these proposals would (1) require background checks for intrastate firearms transfers between unlicensed persons at gun shows and nearly any other venue, otherwise known as the "universal background checks" proposal; (2) increase penalties for gun trafficking; and (3) reinstate and strengthen an expired federal ban on detachable ammunition magazines of over 10-round capacity and certain "military style" firearms commonly described as "semiautomatic assault weapons," which are designed to accept such magazines. On March 21, 2013, Senator Harry Reid introduced the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 (S. 649). As introduced, this bill included the language of several bills previously reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary: (1) the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013 (S. 54), (2) the Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013 (S. 374), and (3) the School Safety Enhancements Act of 2013 (S. 146). However, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 (S. 150) was not included in S. 649. From April 17-18, 2013, the Senate considered S. 649 and nine amendments that addressed a wide array of gun control issues, ranging from restricting assault weapons to mandating interstate recognition (reciprocity) of state handgun concealed carry laws. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed that adoption of these amendments would require a 60-vote threshold. However, all but two of these amendments were rejected. But, a final vote was not taken on S. 649. While the House has yet to consider any of the gun control proposals debated in the Senate, on May 8, 2013, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved a bill, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (H.R. 602), that addresses veterans, mental incompetency, and firearms eligibility. This bill would narrow the grounds by which beneficiaries of veterans' disability compensation or pensions are determined to be ineligible to receive, possess, ship, or transfer a firearm or ammunition because a fiduciary has been appointed on their behalf. The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved a nearly identical bill (S. 572) on September 4, 2013. In addition, in December 2013, Congress approved a 10-year extension of the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 (H.R. 3626; P.L. 113-57). In July 2014, the Senate considered the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 (S. 2363) that included several provisions intended to promote hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. Supporters of gun rights or gun control filed a score of amendments. When a cloture motion was defeated on July 10, 2014, the Senate leadership postponed further consideration of S. 2363. The House Committee on Appropriations approved an FY2015 Interior appropriations measure (yet to be filed) on July 9, 2014, that includes provisions which are similar, but not identical, to those included in S. 2363. The House passed an FY2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 4923) on July 10, 2014, that includes a provision that addresses civilian carry of firearms on public properties managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Senate has passed a companion bill (S. 1245), but it does not include a similar provision. In addition, the House amended and passed an FY2015 District of Columbia appropriations bill (H.R. 5016) on July 16, 2014, with a provision that would prohibit the use of any funding provided under that bill from being used to enforce certain District gun control statutes. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: R42987: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42987.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42987.pdf Shelf Number: 133078 Keywords: FirearmsGun Control (U.S.)Gun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceGuns |
Author: Gerney, Arkadi Title: Assault Weapons Revisited: Policy Options for Regulating Rifles, Shotguns, and Other Firearms 20 Years After the Passage of the Assault Weapons Ban Summary: 20 years after President Bill Clinton signed the federal assault weapons ban into law in September 1994 and a decade after Congress allowed that law to lapse - the question of whether and how to regulate particularly lethal firearms is no longer the primary focus of the national gun debate. While the question of what to do about the proliferation of certain military-style rifles - so-called "assault weapons" - remains open, advocates for stronger gun laws have recently focused on the question of who may possess guns, rather than which type of guns should receive heightened regulation. In the wake of the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, President Barack Obama, congressional leaders, and gun-violence prevention advocates alike made deterring dangerous people from accessing guns the top legislative priority with a proposal for comprehensive background checks for all gun sales. In April 2013, while the Senate also considered a new assault weapons ban that only mustered 40 votes, the Manchin-Toomey bill to expand background checks garnered 55 votes. This shift in focus to prevent dangerous people from accessing guns is appropriate: A broad set of research suggests that such measures are effective in reducing gun violence. Additionally, there is overwhelming support in opinion polls for expanding background checks and similar measures aimed at restricting dangerous people from accessing guns. But the debate persists about whether and how to best regulate assault rifles and other types of firearms that may pose heightened risks to public safety. For more than 20 years, there has generally been only one policy solution offered in this debate: a ban on assault weapons. This report considers how gun laws have evolved to address different classes of firearms and looks more broadly at how federal and state laws treat rifles and shotguns differently than handguns and whether all of those distinctions continue to make sense. It also examines data on the changing nature of gun violence and the increasing use of long guns and assault rifles by criminals, with a focus on Pennsylvania as a case study. Additionally, this report offers a new framework for regulating assault weapons and other special categories of guns that balances the desire of law-abiding gun owners to possess these guns with the need to protect public safety from their misuse in dangerous hands. These policies include: - Require background checks for all gun sales - Require dealers to report multiple sales of long guns - Equalize interstate sales of long guns and handguns - Require federal firearms licenses for individuals that manufacture guns using 3D printers - Bar possession and use of machine guns by individuals under the age of 16 - Require a permit for possession of assault weapons Twenty years after the successful passage of the federal assault weapons ban and 10 years after its expiration, the push for a federal ban on these guns seems stuck in neutral. But much more can be done to strengthen regulation of particularly dangerous guns and to ensure that laws regulating handguns and long guns make sense in today's context. Details: Washington, DC: Center for American Progress, 2014. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 18, 2014 at: http://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/AssaultWeapons-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/AssaultWeapons-report.pdf Shelf Number: 133375 Keywords: Assault WeaponsFirearmsGun ControlGun Control PolicyGun LawsGun-Related Violence (U.S.)Guns |
Author: Florquin, Nicolas Title: Searching for Stability: Perceptions of Security, Justice, and Firearms in Libya Summary: The Issue Brief examines the Libyan population's views and experiences of armed violence, security and justice providers, and firearms circulation. It uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative tools, including semi-directed interviews, focus groups, and a nationwide household survey - administered to 1,500 Libyan households between June and August 2013 - to provide this overview of Libyan perceptions. Four main thematic components elucidate the Issue Brief's findings: (1) perceptions of security and justice; (2) perceptions of security and justice providers; (3) direct experiences of crime and violence; and (4) perceptions of firearms and arms control initiatives. The primary findings include the following: - Although Libyans consider the general lack of security to be their main concern, most also claim that their own neighbourhoods are relatively safe. Reported levels of victimization - i.e. respondents' direct experiences of crime and violence - also appear to be relatively low. Regular clashes between armed groups and tribes in a number of locations contribute to the rampant perceptions of political instability and general insecurity. - The population is confused about the security sector. More than half of survey respondents claimed that no institution, group, or individual provided security in their own neighbourhoods. While the police were the most frequently cited provider of security, Libyans assessed their performance negatively. Some actors, such as the former revolutionary fighters or thuwar, are viewed as both providers of security and sources of insecurity. - A diverse set of both formal and informal actors are involved in the successful resolution of disputes, including police, traditional leaders, family members, local councils, and non-state armed groups. - Self-reported household ownership of firearms is only moderately high in Libya when compared to the situation in several other countries and territories affected by conflict or marked insecurity. Most respondents who reported owning firearms identified them as automatic weapons, such as Kalashnikov-pattern rifles. While they expressed openness to weapons control initiatives, respondents also identified stronger government and security institutions as preconditions for their participation in such initiatives. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/SAS-SANA-IB1-Searching-for-Stability-Libya.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Libya URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/SAS-SANA-IB1-Searching-for-Stability-Libya.pdf Shelf Number: 133451 Keywords: FirearmsGun-Related ViolenceViolence (Kenya)Violent Crime |
Author: Perez, Maria Fernanda Tourinho Title: Firearm-related violence in Brazil Summary: This report provides a summary of the major findings and conclusions of a research effort to create a comprehensive profile of firearm-related violence in Brazil. The research was undertaken and coordinated by the Centre for the Study of Violence at the University of Sao Paulo, and received technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Small Arms Survey (SAS). The WHO has drawn attention to the fact that violence is a major global public health problem through a variety of World Health Assembly resolutions and comprehensive reports such as the World report on violence and health. The statement that violence is a public health problem may not, at first view, be easily understandable. In Brazil, as in many other countries around the world, violence is traditionally approached almost exclusively as a public security problem, with major responses focused on police action and judicial mechanisms. However, this view is beginning to change, and there is increasing recognition of the role of the public health sector and perspective in preventing violence. A public health approach to violence promotes analysis of the distribution of violence and it's determinants, and advocates drawing from this analysis coherent preventive strategies which involve a variety of sectors, including the health sector. This does not mean that violence should be viewed only as a health problem, but that it is important to consider the effects of violence on public health and the potential contributions for preventing violence that can be made through the public health sector. In sum, a public health approach to violence advocates understanding violence through the study of its social determinants, knowing its frequency and distribution in population groups, identifying its risk factors, proposing preventive measures and evaluating and monitoring preventive actions. Thus, far from viewing violence only as a health problem, the public health approach argues that violence must be understood in terms of it's distribution and determinants, and that from understanding these complexities societies can engage in preventive measures. This is neither an easy task, nor is it the task of a single sector. Violence is a social problem with public health, development and security dimensions, and rising to meet this challenge will require the combined and coherent efforts of a broad variety of sectors - both governmental and non-governmental. While there have been a number of studies addressing violence within Brazil, particularly since the late 1980's, the specific issue of firearm-related violence has not always been addressed. Over and above this, many academic studies have tended to circulate mainly within academic networks, with relatively little impact on policy-making or practitioners of violence prevention. The purpose of this publication is to provide a means for the broad dissemination of the summary results of an extensive research undertaking regarding firearm-related violence in Brazil, and in particular to underline the policy-oriented relevance of this work. We hope to contribute to the public debate, as well as towards the formulation of new proposals for such a serious problem in the country. Preventing firearm-related violence will require multi-sectoral approaches. The WHO's World report on violence and health rightly draws attention to the fact that no single factor is responsible for any form of violence. Firearm-related violence, like all other forms of violence, arises from a complex interaction of determinants that can be situated at the level of the individual, their relationships, the community, and society. Multi-sectoral and integrated preventive measures that include structural measures to reduce inequity are essential. Furthermore, the reduction of impunity, reforms within police, judicial and penitentiary systems are all necessary to reduce perceived insecurity within the Brazilian population, particularly since perceived insecurity is the fundamental driver of demand for firearms. Ample evidence indicates that ready access to firearms dramatically increases the lethality of violent encounters, thereby augmenting feelings of fear and insecurity. As a result the demand for firearms fuels increasing insecurity, which fuels further demand for firearms and so on and so forth. The pages of this report demonstrate clearly that firearm-related violence has become an everyday fact of life within Brazilian society, and that this tragedy is experienced most acutely by Brazil's urban youth. Illicit trafficking in drugs and firearms, limited opportunities and perspectives on life for the young population, combined with a social context characterized by unemployment and huge socioeconomic disparities, all contribute to the strikingly high levels of firearm-related violence among Brazil's urban youth. It is beyond the scope of this work to answer all questions about armed violence in Brazil, and this has not been our intent. Our intent has been - through the presentation of a comprehensive profile of firearm-related violence within the country - to contribute to the recognition of the scale and characteristics of this problem, and to advance the case that a broad grouping of sectors within Brazil need to move forward in developing coherent solutions to the problem of firearm-related violence. Details: Sao Paulo: Universidade de Sao Paulo, 2004. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://www.nevusp.org/downloads/down131.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Brazil URL: http://www.nevusp.org/downloads/down131.pdf Shelf Number: 134182 Keywords: FirearmsGun Violence (Brazil)Gun-Related ViolenceHomicidesViolent Crime |
Author: Arizona Firearm Injury Prevention Coalition Title: Firearm Injuries in Arizona: With a Focus on Children Summary: Firearm injuries have recently replaced auto accidents as the most frequent injury causing deaths in Arizona. Too often the victims are young children or teens. In this booklet, Arizona Firearm Injury Prevention Coalition cites multiple sources, including Arizona Department of Health Services; Centers for Disease Control; Arizona Criminal Justice Commission; Phoenix Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; National Opinion Research Center; and Arizona Child Fatality Review, to outline the extent of the problem of firearm injuries in Arizona children and to guide future interventions to reduce those injuries. Arizona always ranks near the top of states with high firearm death rates, and we also have very high rates of nonfatal firearm injuries. Survivors often incur permanent disabilities associated with chronic pain and limitation of activity. Gunshot wounds can profoundly reduce the lifetime potential of children. Parents may suffer financially from large medical bills, and they often suffer emotional trauma from the knowledge that greater vigilance could have prevented their child's tragedy. We hope this booklet will raise awareness of the danger of firearms that are easily accessible to young children and teens, and that readers, especially firearm owners, will be moved to take measures to make firearms inaccessible to children. Details: AFIPC, 2010. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 30, 2015 at: http://afipc.typepad.com/files/2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://afipc.typepad.com/files/2010.pdf Shelf Number: 135432 Keywords: Child ProtectionFirearmsGun-Related InjuriesGun-Related Violence (Arizona)Homicides |
Author: Boggs, Clay Title: Gun-Running Nation: How Foreign-Made Assault Weapons are Trafficked from the United States to Mexico and What to Do About It Summary: A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FIREARMS THAT ARE RECOVERED IN MEXICO COME FROM THE UNITED STATES, BUT ARE NOT U.S.-MANUFACTURED; THEY ARE FIRST IMPORTED, PRINCIPALLY FROM ROMANIA. Data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) show that about 25 percent of U.S.-sourced firearms traced in Mexico were first imported into the United States, and the number could perhaps even be higher. A database of illegal firearms trafficking indictments from U.S. court records compiled by the Violence Policy Center indicates that between 2008 and 2014 the majority of Latin America-bound guns seized by U.S. authorities during the trafficking process-59 percent-were imports. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS A GREAT DEAL OF LATITUDE IN ITS ABILITY TO RESTRICT THE IMPORTATION OF ASSAULT WEAPONS. The president has the authority, granted in the Gun Control Act of 1968, to restrict the importation of firearms that are not "particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes." This authority has been used by previous presidents from both parties to restrict the importation of semiautomatic assault rifles. The president has the authority to ban the semiautomatic assault rifles that are currently being imported legally and then trafficked illegally to Mexico. CROSS-BORDER FIREARMS TRAFFICKING FROM THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES AT SIGNIFICANT LEVELS. It is widely known that the majority of firearms recovered by authorities in Mexico and submitted to ATF for tracing are U.S.-sourced. Between 2009 and 2014, 104,850 firearms were recovered in Mexico and submitted to ATF for tracing; 70 percent (73,684) of those firearms were determined by ATF to be U.S.-sourced. Trace data are also now available for several countries in Central America and the Caribbean: 40 percent of the 8,157 firearms submitted to ATF for tracing in Central America in 2014 were U.S.-sourced. In that year, 60 percent of the 1,387 firearms submitted to ATF in five Caribbean countries came from the United States. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America and Violence Policy Center, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/Gun_Running_Nation.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/Gun_Running_Nation.pdf Shelf Number: 136512 Keywords: FirearmsGun TraffickingTrafficking in Weapons |
Author: Gleason, Diana Title: 2015 Update: Can I Bring My Gun? A Fifty State Survey of Firearm Laws Impacting Policies Prohibiting Handguns in Public Libraries Summary: In Capital Area District Library v. Michigan Open Carry, 826 N.W. 2d 736 (2012), the Michigan Court of Appeals concluded that state law preempted the library's weapons policy prohibiting firearms in the library. My article, Can I Bring My Gun? A Fifty State Survey of Firearm Laws Impacting Policies Prohibiting Handguns in Public Libraries,* asked how laws in each state impact similar policies prohibiting handguns in public libraries. The article warned that many states and the federal government were in the process of amending laws to increase or decrease gun restrictions, and that ongoing change could be expected. In fact, since the article was published in December, 2013, over half the states have amended or promulgated statutes impacting the issue. This update provides a more accurate baseline for following gun laws in the states and District of Columbia. Where information in the original article remains the same the text has not been changed. Details: Moscow, ID: University of Idaho College of law Library, 2015. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2605937 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2605937 Shelf Number: 136842 Keywords: College and UniversitiesFirearmsGun ControlGun PolicySecond Amendment |
Author: Great Britain. Law Commission Title: Firearms Law: A Scoping Consultation Paper Summary: When consulting on the contents of the Law Commission's 12th Programme of Law Reform, a number of respondents suggested that the law governing the use and acquisition of firearms was deeply problematic and in need to reform. This suggestion came from both the police, CPS, and other law enforcement agencies in addition to organisations representing the licensed firearms community. The law regulating the use and acquisition of firearms is contained primarily within the Firearms Act 1968. Further provisions, however, are to be found in an additional 33 Acts of Parliament. In total therefore, to understand fully the law on firearms it is necessary to have regard to 34 Acts of Parliament. In addition to these, the law is to be found in numerous pieces of secondary legislation. Early fact finding with stakeholders suggested there was consensus on those problems that cause the most difficulties in practice. In this scoping consultation paper, the Law Commission sets out these problems and makes some provisional proposals as to how they could be remedied. By providing immediate solutions to these pressing problems, the aim is to maximise public safety whilst also providing clarity and certainty for members of the licensed firearms community. From discussions with stakeholders, it also became clear that there are more fundamental problems with the law. These problems are attributable to the fact the law has become increasing complex, inaccessible and in some instances incoherent. Given that the Firearms Act 1968 was a consolidating Act, many of its provisions have their origin in older legislative provisions, such as the Pistols Act 1903. It is questionable whether these remain fit for purpose in the 21st century. It is for these reasons the Law Commission has also examined in this scoping consultation paper whether more comprehensive reform of the law is necessary. We conclude that the law is problematic and could be improved. The consultation paper gives some examples of problems stakeholders have brought to our attention which we believe could be remedied by codifying the law. In this paper, we are asking consultees for their views on the suitability of the provisional proposals we have made to remedy the most pressing problems with the law. We are also asking consultees whether they agree with our provisional conclusion that more comprehensive reform of the law is necessary. We are equally eager to know whether consultees have any examples of unnecessary costs incurred that are attributable to the deficiencies with the current legislative regime Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2015. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Consultation Paper No. 224: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cp224_firearms.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cp224_firearms.pdf Shelf Number: 137010 Keywords: FirearmsGun ControlGunsWeaspons |
Author: Kleck, Gary Title: Large-Capacity Magazines and the Casualty Counts in Mass Shootings: The Plausibility of Linkages Summary: Do bans on large-capacity magazines (LCMs) for semiautomatic firearms have significant potential for reducing the number of deaths and injuries in mass shootings? The most common rationale for an effect of LCM use is that they allow mass killers to fire many rounds without reloading. LCMs are used is less than 1/3 of 1% of mass shootings. News accounts of 23 shootings in which more than six people were killed or wounded and LCMs were used, occurring in the U.S. in 1994-2013, were examined. There was only one incident in which the shooter may have been stopped by bystander intervention when he tried to reload. In all of these 23 incidents the shooter possessed either multiple guns or multiple magazines, meaning that the shooter, even if denied LCMs, could have continued firing without significant interruption by either switching loaded guns or by changing smaller loaded magazines with only a 2-4 second delay for each magazine change. Finally, the data indicate mass shooters maintain slow enough rates of fire such that the time needed to reload would not increase the time between shots and thus the time available for prospective victims to escape. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2700166 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2700166 Shelf Number: 137749 Keywords: FirearmsGun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Mass Shootings |
Author: Great Britain. Office for National Statistics Title: Crime Statistics: Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, year ending march 2015 Summary: This release is a collaboration between ONS and Home Office analysts. It explores a variety of official statistics on violent crime and is based on interviews carried out on the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) in the year to March 2014 and crimes recorded by the police period over the same period. Trend analysis from both sources is included. This release is split into five chapters, each covering a different aspect of violent crime. The first chapter provides an overview of violent crime, summarising the extent and range of violent crime together with an analysis of long term trends. It also explores information such as the characteristics of the victim and the offender, as well as where and when incidents took place. The second chapter presents analyses of data gathered from the Home Office Homicide Index which includes murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The chapter discusses trends in homicide and puts the latest figures in the context of international comparisons. It also provides details on the characteristics of victims and suspects. The third chapter presents findings on the use of weapons in selected offences recorded by the police including firearms, knives and sharp instruments. It includes information on how they are used, and the injuries caused, as well as describing the geographical distribution of these offences. The fourth chapter uses data from a self-completion section on the 2013/14 CSEW which asks about experience of sexual and domestic violence. It describes offences occurring in the 12 months before the interview as well as those taking place since age 16. The chapter explores aspects of serious sexual assault and attitudes to sexual violence. The final chapter presents findings from the 2013/14 CSEW on violent incidents where alcohol has been a factor. Additional analysis on the nature of alcohol-related violence is also provided from the combined datasets of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 CSEW. This chapter also presents some information on alcohol-related violent crime recorded by the police. Key points - The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) continues to show steady declines in violent crime over the last 20 years. Between the 1995 and the 2013/14 surveys, the number of violent crime incidents has fallen from 3.8 million in 1995 to 1.3 million in 2013/14. - Violent crime victimisation rates have fallen by more than half since peak levels of crime in the mid-1990s. In 1995 4.8% of adults aged 16 and over were a victim of violent crime in the previous year, compared with 1.8% in the 2013/14 survey. - Homicide has also shown a general downward trend since 2002/03. The number of currently recorded homicides for 2013/14 (526) and 2011/12 (528) were the lowest since 1989 (521). The number of homicides in 2013/14 was equivalent to 9.2 offences per million population. - As in previous years, children under one year old had the highest rate of homicide (23.9 offences per million population) compared with other age groups. With the exception of those aged under one year, adults generally had higher incidence rates of being a victim of homicide than children. - The numbers of sexual offences (64,205) in 2013/14 was the highest recorded by the police since 2002/03. As well as improvements in recording, this is thought to reflect a greater willingness of victims to come forward to report such crimes. The CSEW has not seen a rise in the prevalence of sexual assault. The latest estimates show a small fall in sexual assault victimisation rates compared with the previous year. - In 2013/14, there were 7,709 offences in which firearms were involved, a 5% decrease compared with 2012/13. Offences involving knives or sharp instruments fell by 2% between 2012/13 and 2013/14 (to 25,972). These falls follow a sustained downward trend over a number of years. - The profile of victims of violent crime and sexual violence varied according to the type of offence. The CSEW showed that young men were most likely to be the victims of violence, while in contrast young women were more likely to have experienced sexual assault (including attempts). - Women were also more likely to be a victim of domestic abuse, with 8.5% of women and 4.5% of men having experienced domestic abuse in the last year, equivalent to an estimated 1.4 million female victims and 700,000 male victims. - In 2013/14, as in previous years, around two-thirds of homicide victims (65%) were male. In contrast, victims killed by a partner or ex-partner were more likely to be women. - Victims perceived the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 53% of violent incidents. This is equivalent to an estimated 704,000 'alcohol-related' violent incidents. While the volume of violent incidents that were 'alcohol-related' has fallen over time the proportion has remained relatively steady over the last ten years. Alcohol was a particularly prevalent factor in violent incidents between strangers, 64% of which were perceived to be alcohol-related. Details: London: Office of National Statistics, 2016. various pagings Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2016 at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+and+Justice#tab-sum-pub Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+and+Justice#tab-sum-pub Shelf Number: 137883 Keywords: Alcohol-Related CrimeCrime StatisticsCrime SurveysDomestic ViolenceFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesSexual AssaultSexual OffensesSexual ViolenceVictimizationViolent CrimeWeapons |
Author: Granath, Sven Title: Lethal violence in Sweden 1990-2014: A description of trends with a specific focus on firearm violence Summary: Lethal violence is a central type of offence in studies of crime trends in Sweden and in other countries. The rate of unreported cases, i.e. events which never come to the police's attention, is believed to be low for such offences and there is relatively consistent data over time. This report analyses all cases of completed murder, manslaughter, and assault with a lethal outcome of which the police were aware from 1990-2014. The purpose is to describe lethal violence in Sweden, both with a focus on the general trends and with a specific focus on lethal violence with firearms. The latter type of lethal violence has been given a great deal of attention during recent years, not the least in connection with reports of shootings in major cities while, at the same time, there has not yet been a detailed analysis of lethal firearm violence. In addition to information from the criminal justice system regarding cases of lethal violence (police investigations, sentences, etc.), the report also uses data from the National Board of Health and Welfare's cause of death register and patient register. Details: Stockholm: Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra), 2015. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: English summary of Bra report 2015:24: Accessed March 14, 2016 at: https://www.bra.se/download/18.47fa372d1520dfb2fc51b888/1452503671860/2015_Lethal_violence_in_Sweden_1990_2014.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Sweden URL: https://www.bra.se/download/18.47fa372d1520dfb2fc51b888/1452503671860/2015_Lethal_violence_in_Sweden_1990_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 138213 Keywords: Alcohol Related CrimeCrime StatisticsCrime TrendsFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: Quinet, Kenna Title: External Causes of Death in Indiana: Firearm Deaths Summary: Recent national headlines focused on the high firearm suicide rates in Indiana's own Vanderburgh County. In the first few weeks of 2007, suicides in the Evansville area were three times the number expected. Although the pace of suicides slowed during the rest of the year, by the end of 2007, the number of suicides reached 40, exceeding the previous high of 32 in 2005. Of these suicides, the method in 26 of the 40, or 65 percent, was a firearm. Also receiving national attention were the brutal firearm homicides of two Indianapolis women and their two small children. In addition to these recent southern and central Indiana firearm suicides and homicides, there was a tragic firearm injury in northern Indiana in February 2008 when teenagers were out of school due to weather. An 18-year-old boy was unintentionally shot by another teen who was playing with a firearm. From 1990-2005, 11,809 Hoosiers died from firearm-related suicides, homicides, unintentional shootings, and undetermined means. Of those deaths, 6,904 were firearm suicides, 4,297 were firearm homicides, and 432 Indiana residents died in unintentional shootings. Clearly the most significant toll of firearm deaths is from suicide (59 percent), to a lesser extent homicide (37 percent), and the least likely firearm death in Indiana is an unintentional firearm death (4 percent). These unintentional shootings are often the most tragic because children are involved. Newspapers, magazines, television, and radio are filled with stories of firearm homicides, suicides, and unintentional deaths. But how common are these firearm deaths? Are they increasing or decreasing? Which age, race, and gender groups are most vulnerable? How do firearm deaths in Indiana rank compared to the other major external causes of death such as unintentional motor vehicle deaths? This report begins to address these questions using data primarily from the Centers for Disease Control, National Center of Injury Prevention and Control Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). Details: Indianapolis: Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 2008. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2016 at: http://policyinstitute.iu.edu/Uploads/PublicationFiles/CauseOfDeath4.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://policyinstitute.iu.edu/Uploads/PublicationFiles/CauseOfDeath4.pdf Shelf Number: 138440 Keywords: FirearmsGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceGunsHomicides |
Author: Duquet, Nils Title: Armed to Kill: An exploratory analysis of the guns used in public mass shootings in Europe Summary: Every year in Europe around 1,150 people are shot dead with firearms. These deaths occur in various contexts, including the relational and criminal spheres. The little available research into the weapons used during these fatal crimes suggests that different types of firearms are used in different contexts. In this report we focus on the weapons that were used for one specific form of deadly firearms incidents, namely "public mass shootings". These are shooting incidents in the (semi-)public space in which the perpetrator(s) use one or more firearms and during which several people are killed and injured. Under this umbrella term we find numerous types of shooting incidents, ranging from school shootings in which a frustrated pupil murders a number of classmates and/or teachers to terrorist attacks in which groups of perpetrators attempt to spread terror in coordinated attacks. A look at recent mass shootings shows that significant differences can be observed in terms of, for example, the locations where these shootings were carried out, the number of perpetrators, the motives of the perpetrator(s), the selection of the victims and the firearms used. This report analyses one specific aspect of such shooting incidents, namely the firearms that were used. Details: Brussels: Flemish Peace Institute, 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2016 at: http://www.flemishpeaceinstitute.eu/sites/vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu/files/files/hitp/armed_to_kill.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.flemishpeaceinstitute.eu/sites/vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu/files/files/hitp/armed_to_kill.pdf Shelf Number: 139545 Keywords: FirearmsGun-Related ViolenceGunsHomicidesMass Shootings |
Author: Moody, Carlisle E. Title: Firearms and the Decline of Violence in Europe: 1200-2010 Summary: Personal violence, has declined substantially in Europe from 1200-2010. The conventional wisdom is that the state's monopoly on violence is the cause of this happy result. I find some evidence that does not support this hypothesis. I suggest an alternative hypothesis that could explain at least some of the reduction in violence, namely that the invention and proliferation of compact, concealable, ready-to-use firearms caused potential assailants to recalculate the probability of a successful assault and seek alternatives to violence. I use structural change models to test this hypothesis and find breakpoints consistent with the invention of certain firearms. Details: Williamsburg, VA: College of William and Mary, Department of Economics, 2015. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Number 158: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://economics.wm.edu/wp/cwm_wp158.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://economics.wm.edu/wp/cwm_wp158.pdf Shelf Number: 139579 Keywords: Concealed WeaponsFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: Violence Policy Center Title: Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use: An Analysis of Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Crime Victimization Survey Data Summary: In 2012, across the nation there were only 259 justifiable homicides involving a private citizen using a firearm reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program as detailed in its Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR). That same year, there were 8,342 criminal gun homicides tallied in the SHR. In 2012, for every justifiable homicide in the United States involving a gun, guns were used in 32 criminal homicides . And this ratio, of course, does not take into account the tens of thousands of lives ended in gun suicides or unintentional shootings that year. This report analyzes, on both the national and state levels, the use of firearms in justifiable homicides. It also details, using the best data available on the national level, the total number of times guns are used for self-defense by the victims of both attempted and completed violent crimes and property crimes whether or not the use of the gun by the victim resulted in a fatality. Details: Washington, DC: VPC, 2015. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2016 at: http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf Shelf Number: 139937 Keywords: Crime StatisticsFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesSelf-Defense |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division Title: Audit of the Handling of Firearms Purchase Denials Through the National Instant Criminal Background Check Systems Summary: The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is used by Federal Firearms Licensees, importers, and manufacturers (collectively, "dealers") to determine whether a prospective purchaser is legally prohibited from doing so. The process begins when the person provides a dealer with photo identification and a completed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473. The form asks questions corresponding to the categories of persons prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. Providing false information is a federal crime. If a prospective purchaser answers "yes" to any questions, the sale must be denied. Otherwise, the dealer generally must request a NICS check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or their state point of contact. The transfer can occur only if the check does not identify prohibitive criteria, or if it takes more than 3 business days. If 3 business days pass without a determination that the transaction can be approved or must be denied, the dealer can either complete the sale (unless prohibited by local law) or wait for the check to be performed. For approved transactions, identifying information about the purchaser and firearm is purged from NICS within 24 hours pursuant to federal law. For denied transactions, the FBI sends relevant information to ATF's Denial Enforcement and NICS Intelligence (DENI) Branch for possible investigation. For a "delayed denial," where a firearm transfer to a prohibited purchaser occurred because the check took more than 3 business days to complete, ATF is charged with recovering the firearm. Additionally, ATF consults with U.S. Attorneys' Offices (USAO) to decide whether to refer for possible prosecution denial cases that it believes have prosecutorial merit. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) undertook this audit to examine (1) the effectiveness of the FBI's quality control processes for NICS transactions, the impact of state reporting and recording on FBI NICS determinations, and the FBI's referral of denied NICS transactions to ATF; (2) ATF's initial screening and referral of denied transactions to its field offices for investigation, and ATF field offices' investigation of denied transactions; and (3) the USAOs' prosecution of crimes associated with denials. Details: Washington, DC: DOJ, 2016. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Audit Division 16-32: Accessed September 30, 2016 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/a1632.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/a1632.pdf Shelf Number: 140527 Keywords: Background CheckCriminal BackgroundsFirearmsGun ControlGun Policy |
Author: Widmer, Mireille Title: Firearms and Violent Deaths Summary: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly links firearms, violence, and sustainable development (UNGA, 2015). Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 includes global commitments to significantly reduce "all forms of violence and related death rates" (Target 16.1) as well as illicit arms flows (Target 16.4) by 2030. In addition, the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators recommends that states provide data on violence-related deaths disaggregated by instrument of violence, among other factors. Measures that target the use, possession, and transfer of firearms - such as dedicated legislation, transfer controls, amnesties, or crackdowns on illicit possession - can help to reduce violent deaths in both conflict and non-conflict settings. Such measures can also assist in curbing non-lethal outcomes, such as the rate of firearm-related injuries, disability, and psychological trauma, on which comprehensive national data is scarce (Alvazzi del Frate and De Martino, 2013). This Research Note analyses trends in firearm-related violent deaths. It presents estimates based on data in the Small Arms Survey's database on violent deaths, which currently covers countries around the world from 2004 to 1 August 2016 and includes both conflict deaths and homicide data sets (Small Arms Survey, n.d.; see Box 1). The Note updates data published in the Global Burden of Armed Violence 2015 (Geneva Declaration Secretariat, 2015a). It finds that: Globally, firearms were used in an estimated 46 per cent of all violent deaths in 2010-15. Specifically, they were used in 50 per cent of homicides and 32 per cent of conflict deaths. The use of firearms in lethal violence is particularly prevalent in the Americas, as well as Southern Africa and Southern Europe. In most regions, the proportion of violent deaths that involved firearms was fairly stable from 2007-12 to 2010-15, although averages decreased in the Caribbean and increased in Southern Africa. National time-series data reveals differing patterns in Albania and Croatia. In Albania, firearm and non-firearm violent deaths have risen and fallen in parallel, suggesting that they are both influenced by common factors. In Croatia, the rate of firearm homicide decreased by 70 per cent between 2006 and 2013, independently of the rate of non-firearm homicide, which remained relatively stable. Efforts are required Details: Geneva, SWIT: Small Arms Survey, 2016. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Notes No. 60: Accessed November 7, 2016 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/H-Research_Notes/SAS-Research-Note-60.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/H-Research_Notes/SAS-Research-Note-60.pdf Shelf Number: 145310 Keywords: Conflict-Related ViolenceFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesViolent Crime |
Author: Carapic, Jovana Title: Handgun Ownership and Armed Violence in the Western Balkans Summary: In the 1990s, the countries and territories of the Western Balkans1 experienced several transformations: a transition from socialism to liberal democracy, widespread economic decline, and episodes of violent conflict in Bosnia and Croatia (1991–95) and in Kosovo (1999) (see Map). Since the turn of the 21st century, the region has witnessed increasing political stability and socioeconomic adjustment. Yet while the threat of armed conflict in the region has decreased, levels of handgun ownership and armed violence remain high. Throughout the region, which has an overall population of about 25 million (UNDESA, n.d.), an estimated 3.6–6.2 million firearms are in civilian possession. The high prevalence of civilian-held firearms has been linked to the rate of violent crime, with the homicide rate in the Western Balkans being higher than in the other countries of Southern Europe as well as in Western Europe (Alvazzi del Frate and Mugellini, 2012; Geneva Declaration Secretariat, 2011, p. 60). In addition, the high prevalence of firearms and violent crime in the region is linked to the activities of organized crime, which is largely perceived by both the international and the local population as one of the primary sources of insecurity in the Western Balkans. These findings call for an analysis of the dynamics of firearms possession and armed violence in the Western Balkans. This Issue Brief examines the historical aspects of firearms proliferation in the region in order to frame the issue. It also presents the results of a nationwide household survey conducted by Gallup Europe in the countries and territories of the Western Balkans in 2012. The Small Arms Survey had the opportunity to insert three questions relating to firearms possession and armed victimization into the 2012 Gallup Balkan Monitor (see Box 1). Where necessary, the data from the survey has been supplemented by information from other sources, such as international and national data, special reports, and policy and academic research. The main findings are as follows: The Western Balkans is home to an estimated 3.6–6.2 million registered and unregistered firearms. At least 500,000 and up to 1.6 million households own firearms in the Western Balkans. Since 1995, the average homicide rate in the region has decreased drastically, stabilizing at around 2.0 per 100,000 between 2007 and 2010. Nevertheless, the homicide rate is still significantly higher than in other European regions, and homicides are more frequently committed with firearms. About 1.2 per cent of all survey respondents reported that a household member was held at gunpoint in the 12 months prior to the administration of the survey. This Issue Brief is divided into three sections. The first section outlines the cultural and historical factors that have facilitated the spread of firearms among the population. The second section examines the post-conflict security dynamics, the role of organized crime in the proliferation of firearms, and the prevalence of registered and unregistered firearms in the region. The section ends with a focus on longitudinal trends in the homicide rate, as disaggregated by sex and firearms. Section three, which comprises the bulk of the analysis, presents region-wide household survey data obtained from the 2012 Gallup Balkan Monitor to generate an evidence-based understanding of armed violence in the Western Balkans. Specifically, the section unpacks issues relating to self-reported and perceived levels of handgun ownership, provides estimates of household firearms possession, and reflects on experiences of armed violence. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, 2014. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief, no. 4: Accessed November 10, 2016 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/SAS-AV-IB4-Western-Balkans.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/SAS-AV-IB4-Western-Balkans.pdf Shelf Number: 146983 Keywords: FirearmsGun OwnershipGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicides |
Author: Control Arms Campaign Title: The AK-47: the world's favourite killing mahine Summary: Kalashnikov assault rifles are the most widespread military weapons in the world. It is estimated that there are between 50 and 70 million of them spread across the world’s five continents. They are used daily by soldiers, fighters, and gang members to inflict untold suffering in many countries. The spread of these weapons continues largely unchecked by governments, threatening the lives and safety of millions as weapons fall into irresponsible hands. More than ever, the Kalashnikov rifle is the weapon of choice for many armies, militias, armed gangs, law enforcement officials, rebels, and other private actors who abuse fundamental human rights and operate beyond the international humanitarian law parameters laid down by the Geneva Conventions and other relevant international law. Although the United Nations and its member states have taken concrete action to limit the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction through international treaties and monitoring organisations, the number one tool used for killing and injuring civilians today is small arms, including the assault rifle, which is reaching more countries than ever before. On 26 June 2006, the UN Review Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons begins in New York. At this conference, governments have an opportunity to agree effective and comprehensive controls to prevent the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including assault rifles like the AK-47. In October 2006, at the UN General Assembly, governments should agree to negotiate a new global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to regulate international transfers of all conventional arms, including military assault rifles. Details: s.l.: Control Arms.org: 2006. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Control Arms Briefing Note: Accessed November 21, 2016 at: https://www.oxfamamerica.org/static/oa3/files/ak-47-worlds-favourite-killing-machine.pdf Year: 2006 Country: International URL: https://www.oxfamamerica.org/static/oa3/files/ak-47-worlds-favourite-killing-machine.pdf Shelf Number: 147878 Keywords: Arms ControlAssault WeaponsFirearmsIllegal FirearmsIllicit TradeTrafficking in Weapons |
Author: New South Wales Ombudsman Title: Restricted Premises Act: Review of police use of firearms search powers and new offence provisions Summary: Since the Second World War police could apply to a court, under the Disorderly Houses Act 1943, for a declaration over particular premises to curtail certain unlawful and undesirable activities. These included the unlawful supply of drugs or alcohol, and people of criminal repute frequenting the premises. Once a declaration was made, police could search the declared premises without a further warrant from a judicial officer to look for alcohol, drugs and related items. The owners and occupiers of declared premises were liable to criminal prosecution if they failed to stop the proscribed activities from continuing. The Disorderly Houses Act was renamed the Restricted Premises Act 1943 in 2002. Since 2009, the NSW Police Force has used the powers conferred by this Act to target the clubhouses of suspected outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs). On 1 November 2013, amendments to the Restricted Premises Act commenced, adding new features to the existing scheme as part of reforms intended to make it easier for police to obtain a declaration over premises routinely being used by serious criminals, and to combat firearms-related crime. The amendments authorised police to search for weapons and explosives (including firearms) as well as drugs and alcohol. A new category of ‘reputed criminal declaration’ and new offences for owners and occupiers of declared premises were also created. The NSW Ombudsman was given the role of keeping under scrutiny the additional police search powers and monitoring the operation of the new offence provisions, during the first two years of operation. No declaration was made over any premises during the review period. Although police applied for a declaration in relation to one suspected OMCG clubhouse, this application was withdrawn when the owner stopped using the premises as a clubhouse and leased them to a legitimate business. As a result, police did not use the search powers to find weapons or explosives, and no charges were laid for the new offences. Concerns were raised both in the parliamentary debates about the amendments, and in submissions to this review, about the potential operation of the new search powers and offence provisions. I have recommended a further independent review of these search powers and offence provisions be conducted should a reputed criminal declaration be made in the future. Prior to applying for a declaration, police can apply for a warrant to search premises where they suspect proscribed activities are taking place. The 2013 amendments expanded the items that could be searched for under such a warrant to include weapons and explosives. During the review period, police executed seven of these kinds of warrants. This was an extension of an existing policing strategy that has used the search powers under the Restricted Premises Act, alongside other disruption activities, such as the giving of consorting warnings, to disrupt activities at suspected OMCG clubhouses. During these seven searches police stripped the premises, seizing almost all of their contents, including not only drugs, alcohol, weapons and explosives, but also items such as furniture, sound systems and OMCG paraphernalia. These actions appeared to have successfully led to the closing down of most of those bikie clubhouses, as the occupants stopped using the premises following most of the searches. However, I have some concerns about the legal basis for the seizure of some of those items and recommend that the NSW Police Force seek advice to clarify the scope of their seizure powers. Our review also identified an urgent need to clarify the powers of police to manage the people present on premises when they arrive to conduct a search. Police encountered a number of people when arriving to search 3 of the 7 premises, with 62 people present at one set of premises, 22 at another and 6 at the third. On each occasion, prior to commencing the premises search, police detained and searched every person, obtained their identification, took their photograph and directed them to leave. Our legal advice indicates that police do not currently have a firm legal basis, of general application, under the Restricted Premises Act to take the actions described. In my view, the Act should be amended to give police adequate powers to manage the risks associated with potentially dangerous operations and to ensure the safety of people and officers present at searches. The recommendations I have made should provide police with certainty about the scope of their powers, ensure that people on premises are managed in a reasonable manner, and ensure there is clearer and more effective accountability for police actions. From our review, it does not appear that the expansion of powers to enable police to search under the Restricted Premises Act for weapons and explosives has enhanced police's ability to disrupt OMCGs or detect unlawful firearms. A future review of the provisions may be better placed to evaluate the efficacy of the amendments, particularly following any declaration under the Act. Whether or not a declaration is sought in the future, the adoption of the recommendations in this report will facilitate reasonable and effective use of the Restricted Premises Act scheme and thereby assist public confidence in police being maintained. Details: Sydney: NSW Ombudsman, 2016. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2016 at: https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/38904/NSW-Ombudsman-Restricted-Premises-Report-web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/38904/NSW-Ombudsman-Restricted-Premises-Report-web.pdf Shelf Number: 140234 Keywords: FirearmsPolice Discretion Police Power Search and Seizure |
Author: Dehart, Andrew Title: Chicago Homicides Completed with a Firearm from 1971 to 1993: A Lens of Social Disorganization Theory and Firearm Legislation Summary: Firearm legislation is a hotly debated topic in the light of recent mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and elsewhere. President Obama has introduced a firearm policy directed at curtailing firearm homicide. The literature on gun laws and their effect on crime are mixed. Some jurisdictions operate under strict firearm policies and others believe greater access to guns will deter potential criminals. This study uses social disorganization theory to test the effect of restrictive firearm policy in Chicago, Illinois from 1971 to 1993. In particular, this thesis seeks to determine the rate of firearm homicides in the eleven years prior to the 1982 gun ban in Chicago versus the eleven years following 1982. Furthermore, social disorganization theory is tested when comparing gun murders in gentrifying communities to different community area types from 1983 to 1993. The results suggest Chicago's 1982 ban may have lowered the city's firearm murder rate during the eleven years after the ban. Moreover, gentrifying communities, while sharing common characteristics of social disorganization theory, had a moderating impact on firearm homicides. The odd ratios from 1983 to 1993 Chicago gun murders increased in every community area type as compared to gentrifying neighborhoods. Details: Tyler, TX: University of Texas at Tyler, 2016. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed June 16, 2017 at: http://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=crimjustice_grad Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=crimjustice_grad Shelf Number: 146198 Keywords: Firearm LegislationFirearmsGun-Related ViolenceGunsHomicides |
Author: Leshner, Alan I. Title: Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence Summary: Individuals use firearms legally for a variety of activities, including recreation, self-protection, and work. However, firearms can also be used to intimidate, coerce, or carry out threats of violence. Fatal and nonfatal firearm violence poses a serious threat to the safety and welfare of the American public. Although violent crime rates have declined in recent years, the U.S. rate of firearm-related deaths is the highest among industrialized countries. In 2010, incidents in the United States involving firearms injured or killed more than 105,000 individuals; there were twice as many nonfatal firearm-related injuries (73,505) than deaths. Nonfatal violence often has significant physical and psychological impacts, including psychological outcomes for those in proximity to individuals who are injured or die from gun violence. The recent, highly publicized, tragic mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut; Aurora, Colorado; Oak Creek, Wisconsin; and Tucson, Arizona, have sharpened the publics interest in protecting our children and communities from the effects of firearm violence. In January 2013, President Obama issued 23 executive orders directing federal agencies to improve knowledge of the causes of firearm violence, the interventions that might prevent it, and strategies to minimize its public health burden. One of these executive orders noted that "in addition to being a law enforcement challenge, firearm violence is also a serious public health issue that affects thousands of individuals, families, Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other relevant federal agencies, to immediately begin identifying the most pressing firearm-related violence research problems." The CDC and the CDC Foundation requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC), convene a committee of experts to develop a potential research agenda focusing on the public health aspects of firearm-related violence - its causes, approaches to interventions that could prevent it, and strategies to minimize its health burden. In accordance with the CDC's charge, the committee did not focus on public health surveillance and potentially related behavioral/mental health issues, as these will be addressed separately. The research program envisioned by the committee, which is designed to produce impacts in 3-5 years, focuses on - the characteristics of firearm violence, - risk and protective factors, - interventions and strategies, - gun safety technology, and - the influence of video games and other media. The committee identified potential research topics by conducting a survey of previous relevant research, considering input received during the workshop, and using its expert judgment. The committee was not asked to consider funding for the research agenda, and in addition to the CDC, it is likely that other agencies and private foundations will also implement the research agenda. Consequently, the committee identified a full range of high-priority topics that could be explored with significant progress made in 3-5 years. Research on these topics will improve current knowledge of the causes of firearm violence, the interventions that prevent firearm violence, and strategies to minimize the public health burden of firearm violence. To allow the research community flexibility in designing the research protocols, the report does not specify the methodologies that should be used to address the research topics. The evidence generated by implementing a public health research agenda can enable the development of sound policies that support both the rights and the responsibilities central to gun ownership in the United States. In the absence of this research, policy makers will be left to debate controversial policies without scientifically sound evidence about their potential effects. Details: Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine and National Research Council of the National Academies, 2013. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2017 at: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/IOM-NRC_Priorities-for-Research-to-reduce-the-threat-of-firearm-related-violence_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/IOM-NRC_Priorities-for-Research-to-reduce-the-threat-of-firearm-related-violence_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129667 Keywords: FirearmsGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesViolent Crime |
Author: Persi Paoli, Giacomo Title: Against the rising tide: an overview of the criminalisation of the Mediterranean region Summary: New challenges are reshaping the international order, requiring government leaders to consider new strategies and tools that integrate diplomatic, economic, and military instruments of power. Nowhere is this more evident than around the Mediterranean Sea, which has progressively returned as a region of global strategic interest where political tensions, armed conflict, economic and social instability and transnational criminal networks demand solutions that cross traditional institutional boundaries of domestic and international policy-making. The geo-political situation on the southern coast of the Mediterranean has radically changed and new challenges have emerged for the European Union, United States, and beyond. Long-lasting issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or the tensions between Turkey and Greece, continue to be present, but new destabilising factors have emerged in the region following the Arab spring of 2011. The US, EU and NATO continue to maintain a significant military presence in and around the Mediterranean, but military capabilities must be nested within a whole-of-government, international approach. The challenges in this region demand unprecedented levels of civil-military and intergovernmental cooperation. In this context, RAND established the Mediterranean Foresight Forum (MFF) in 2015 to support the development of comprehensive, integrated civil-military responses to complex regional challenges through an innovative combination of research, scenario-based sensitivity analysis and strategic-level exercises. This publication is part of a series of four RAND Perspectives (PE) each focusing on different challenges in the Mediterranean region. Other Perspectives cover the issues of Foreign Policy and Diplomacy, Defence and Security and Cross-cutting issues. Details: Cambridge, UK: RAND Europe, 2017. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2017 at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE220.html Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE220.html Shelf Number: 147229 Keywords: Drug Trafficking FirearmsIllegal Drug Trade Maritime Crime Organized Crime Piracy |
Author: Alpers, Philip Title: Firearm Legislation in Australia 21 Years After the National Firearms Agreement Summary: Four consecutive formal reports have now found that no Australian State or Territory has at any stage fully complied with the 1996 or 2002 firearm resolutions which collectively formed the National Firearms Agreement. In important areas, State and Territory legislation has been blocked or revised to dilute the effect of the NFA. This report, commissioned and funded by Gun Control Australia, finds that on balance, both non-compliance from day one and two decades of political pressure have steadily reduced restrictions and undermined the NFA's original intent. Details: s.l.: Gun.Policy.Org, 2017. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2017 at: http://www.gunpolicy.org/documents/6936-firearm-legislation-in-australia-21-years-after-the-national-firearms-agreement/file Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://www.gunpolicy.org/documents/6936-firearm-legislation-in-australia-21-years-after-the-national-firearms-agreement/file Shelf Number: 147615 Keywords: FirearmsGun PolicyGun-Related ViolenceGuns |
Author: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Title: Firearm Violence in Tennessee: 2013-2016 Summary: This report will analyze a four-year crime trend regarding firearm offenses reported to the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) by Tennessee law enforcement agencies, colleges and universities. Information obtained from TIBRS has been verified by reporting agencies for accuracy. This report will illustrate specific information for violent crimes, such as Crimes Against Persons using firearms. For the purpose of this study, the weapon type listed as a Firearm in TIBRS will be considered for this report. TIBRS defines Firearms as weapons that fire a shot by force of an explosion, i.e. Handguns, Rifles, Shotguns, Flare Guns, etc. Other weapons, such as Knife/Cutting Instruments, Poison, Explosives, and Fire/Incendiary devices are excluded. Details: Nashville: The Bureau, 2017. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2018 at: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tbi/documents/tibrs/Firearm%20Report-2013-2016_Final.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tbi/documents/tibrs/Firearm%20Report-2013-2016_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 149516 Keywords: FirearmsGun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Violent Crime |
Author: Savona, Ernesto U. Title: Fighting Illicit Firearms Trafficking Routes and Actors at European Level: Final Report of Project FIRE Summary: Project FIRE - Fighting Illicit firearms trafficking Routes and actors at European level (www. fireproject.eu) - was carried out with the financial support of the European Commission, DG Home Affairs, within the Prevention of and the Fight against Crime (ISEC) Programme. The research is an exploratory study on the illicit trafficking of firearms (ITF) in the EU. Based on the results obtained, it also provides recommendations on how to improve the fight against and the prevention of ITF. For the purposes of the study, ITF has been defined as every case in which the illicit acquisition, sale, delivery, movement or transfer of firearms, their parts or ammunition occur from, to, or within the territory of the EU. Background The availability of firearms is recognised as an increasingly pressing issue because of the lethal impact that firearms can have in terms of violence and terrorism. For this reason, the EU is currently revising its Firearms Directive, and the fight against organised crime and terrorism ranks high on the European security agenda. However, the role that ITF plays in feeding into violence within the EU has long been disregarded. This has been mirrored by a lack of priority given to rigorous investigation of the origins of firearms involved in the commission of crimes-and a lack of scientific research in the field. In addition, there is a lack of public official data on ITF. Approach Project FIRE adopts an integrated market perspective to address these difficulties and to study ITF within a wider framework of illicit markets. This approach makes it possible to combine analysis of both the various stages within the illicit supply chain of ITF and the demand for illicit firearms. It develops a methodology based on the collection and analysis of data from online news and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and custom press releases, providing high level of detail and a large number of variables. For this purpose, firearm seizures have been considered as a proxy for the ITF, and deadly and non-deadly shootings as proxies for the demand for illicit firearms. This study represents a first step towards better understanding of the ITF in the EU. It is accordingly an important resource for both public and private institutions and researchers. The results from the project have been grouped into three parts: - ITF in the EU (Part I) - The EU's regulatory framework to counter ITF (Part II) - Recommendations on how to improve the prevention of and fight against ITF (Part III). Details: Milano: Transcrime - Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 2017. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 10, 2018 at: http://www.transcrime.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FIREFinalReport.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.transcrime.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FIREFinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 149749 Keywords: FirearmsFirearms TraffickingOrganized CrimeTrafficking in FirearmsTrafficking in WeaponsWeapons |
Author: Everytown for Gun Safety Title: Danger in the Land of Enchantment: Investigating online gun sales in New Mexico Summary: In October 2016, a violent felon from Deming tried to buy a gun. He had recently served time in prison for three felonies related to a domestic violence incident: armed with a revolver, he choked his fiancee, told her he would break her neck, and tried to force her into the trunk of her car.1 His felony convictions made it illegal for him to buy or possess firearms - but now he was online and actively shopping for a Glock handgun. If he had tried to buy one at a licensed dealer, where background checks are legally required, his felony convictions would have blocked the sale. Instead, he turned to online ads - where, because of a loophole in the law in New Mexico, gun sales can be arranged with no background check required. Policymakers have long recognized that it's dangerous for people with a felony conviction, a history of domestic abuse, or serious mental illness to have guns.2 People with such records, like the man described above, are legally prohibited from buying or possessing guns. That's why licensed gun dealers - Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, or any of the hundreds of local gun stores across New Mexico - are legally required to contact the background check system to run a check on every buyer. When someone who is not allowed to have a gun attempts to make a purchase, the background check blocks the sale. But there's a problem with this system. In New Mexico, because of a dangerous loophole in the law - referred to as the background check loophole - background checks are not required when guns are sold by individuals who are not licensed dealers.3 These sales are called "unlicensed" gun sales, and they aren't just taking place between friends or neighbors - they're taking place on the internet. Websites like Armslist.com, the "Craigslist for guns," provide a platform for unlicensed gun sales to be arranged online, between strangers. Because of the background check loophole, criminals can turn to these online unlicensed sales to arm themselves illegally, no background check required, no questions asked. To understand how often criminals in New Mexico take advantage of the background check loophole to buy guns in unlicensed online sales, Everytown investigators (1) examined the size of the state's unlicensed online sale market, and (2) posted for-sale ads online, tracking how many responses were from New Mexicans prohibited by law from buying or possessing firearms. Details: New York: Everytown for Gun Safety, 2017. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2018 at: https://everytownresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/EGS-031-NewMexico_5a_020817.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://everytownresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/EGS-031-NewMexico_5a_020817.pdf Shelf Number: 149787 Keywords: Background ChecksFirearmsGun Control PolicyIllegal Guns |
Author: Duquet, Nils Title: Triggering Terror: Illicit Gun Markets and Firearms Acquisition of Terrorist Networks in Europe Summary: In recent years there has been growing policy attention for illicit firearms markets in Europe. Yet, in-depth research into the scale of the problem as well as the specific characteristics and dynamics of these markets is lacking for most EU member states. This is part of larger problem where firearms and gun violence in the European context have traditionally received scant research attention. To illustrate this, in 2012 Greene and Marsh found that, between 1999 and 2009, 665 Web of Science articles had been written on firearms and violence. Two thirds of these articles, however, covered the situation in the United States (US), and were written primarily by authors based in the US.1 In contrast, research on the situation in Europe continues to be rather sparse. One of the reasons for this difference is that levels of gun crime and gun deaths in Europe are relatively low. A recent study demonstrated that, in the EU, on an annual basis an average of 1,000 homicides are committed with a firearm.2 As such, firearms-related homicides in Europe are among the lowest in the world.3 In addition, large-scale illicit firearms trafficking is quite exceptional in the EU and the illicit firearms market is considered to be modest in size. Nevertheless, the lack of a sound understanding of illicit firearms markets in Europe is not only an epistemological problem. It has obvious and far-reaching policy implications. Specifically, it hampers attempts to develop and implement a comprehensive regulatory and operational approach to combat illicit firearms markets and terrorist access to these markets. The EU has repeatedly stated that building a better intelligence picture on this multifaceted security phenomenon is urgently needed. Recent terrorist attacks involving firearms in Europe significantly boosted the sense of urgency. Both at national and EU levels various legislative and policy initiatives have been undertaken to reinforce the fight against illicit firearms trafficking in general, and to prevent terrorist firearms acquisition in particular. Yet, due to the lack of sound research, these initiatives have often been based on a case-bound, partial or even completely lacking, meaningful intelligence pictures. A mature research community could contribute significantly to the intelligence picture of illicit firearms trafficking that is being developed by national law enforcement agencies and Europol. Yet, a European research community focused on illicit firearms trafficking and gun violence in Europe is currently still germinal. In their extensive literature review Greene and Marsh identified two distinct research mainly relied on in-depth interviews with key national actors involved in the combat against illicit firearms trafficking or terrorism. During the initial phase of the research, it became clear that the phenomena under consideration could not be adequately understood without a sounder understanding of what happened in Europe's wider neighbourhood. Therefore, in addition to the eight country studies, an assessment was made of the illicit possession and proliferation of firearms in the wider EU neighbourhood in order to address the significant nexus between the EU's internal and external security dimensions in terms of illicit firearms trafficking. Overview of the chapters The research conducted within the framework of Project SAFTE resulted in two separate publications: a policy report and a comprehensive research volume. The policy report10 contains the systematic and comparative analysis of the main findings of the different country and neighbourhood studies, whereas this research volume contains all eight in-depth country studies and two neighbourhood studies as separate chapters. This allows the reader to gain profounder and more detailed insight into the research findings of Project SAFTE. The first chapter of this book examines the illicit gun market in Belgium, a country often labelled as one of Europe's hotspots for illicit firearms trade. In this chapter Nils Duquet and Kevin Goris argue that the illicit gun market in Belgium is largely driven by criminal demand, especially from drugs criminals, armed robbers and organized motorcycle gangs. In recent years an increase in converted blank firing weapons and reactivated firearms has been observed. The availability of these weapons eroded the traditional closed character of this market. This made it easier for both lower-ranking criminals and terrorists with criminal connections to acquire firearms. The authors warn that current heightened prioritisation of terrorism in Belgium has become a double-edged sword in the fight against illicit firearms trafficking: while it has increased policy attention for this security phenomenon, it has also brought about a (temporary) displacement of people and resources towards preventing and investigating terrorism. Duquet and Goris conclude that Belgian law enforcement services all too often treat terrorism and illicit firearms trafficking as two distinct problems. They strongly recommend better information sharing and the development of joint actions between and within the law enforcement services that combat these interconnected security phenomena. In the second chapter Filip Dragovic, Paul James, Kresimir Mamic and Robert Mikac analyse the illicit firearms market in Croatia. Despite large number of weapons handed in during voluntary surrender programmes, the current illicit firearms market in Croatia is still largely based on the significant presence of weapons left over from the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, including large quantities of military grade firearms. A great number of these legacy weapons ended up in the hands of civilians. The authors note that alongside these legacy weapons, firearms have also entered the illicit market through illicit production and thefts. Small storage facilities at police stations and lower-level military units in particular, remain prone to theft. Interestingly, the authors argue that, despite the widespread illegal firearms possession in the country, Croatia is not characterized by a very active illicit firearms market because many of the illegal gun owners prefer to retain their firearms. They conclude that research on the Croatian illicit firearms market is still limited and stress the need for more cooperation between law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, the private sector and the research community to improve the current intelligence picture and enhance the combat against illicit firearms trafficking. In the third chapter of this book Lina Grip demonstrates that the illicit gun market in Denmark is fragmented and supply-driven. Criminal gangs, both organized motorcycle gangs as well as less organized urban street gangs, are the main customers on the illicit firearms market in Denmark. Violent conflicts between such groups are responsible for most of the public shootings in the country. A majority of firearms on this market are locally sourced, especially through thefts of old unregistered firearms. Grip warns that shooting clubs are commonly being used by criminals to practice their shooting skills and as a target for thefts. She also stresses the role played by gun enthusiasts, without violent or criminal intentions, who act outside of the law and this way may feed the illicit market. Not surprisingly, the firearms used in recent terrorist attacks in Denmark were acquired through thefts. While Danish policy to combat illicit firearms possession has been primarily focused on deterring the use of firearms by criminal gangs, Grip concludes that more can be done to integrate firearms-specific initiatives into programmes to prevent violent extremism. In the fourth chapter Nicolas Florquin and Andre Desmarais present a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the illicit firearms market in France and the firearms possessed and used by different terrorist groups in recent years. They argue that France has a sizeable and growing pool of illicit firearms as a result of a historic tolerance towards unregistered rifles and shotguns, and because of cross-border smuggling of firearms in recent decades. This chapter demonstrates that the firearms on the French illicit market originate from a wide variety of sources and that terrorist groups have used a wide range of procurement methods to access firearms. Florquin and Desmarais demonstrate that different types of terrorist groups and networks are characterized by different firearms acquisition patterns. While jihadi terrorist networks have used their, mainly low-level, criminal connections to procure firearms, a terrorist group like ETA, for example, has instead relied heavily on targeted thefts. Tracing firearms often proves very difficult, but the authors stress the merits of doing so. The tracing of the reactivated rifles used in recent terrorist attacks, for example, has been a crucial step in building momentum to politically address the problem of easy-to-reactivate weapons from Slovakia. The illicit firearms market in Italy and terrorist access to this market is the focus of the fifth chapter. Francesco Strazzari and Francesca Zampagni note that the Italian market has mainly been supplied with a wide variety of firearms from the Western Balkans since the 1990s, but that organised crime groups have also relied on firearms thefts and the reactivation of firearms. The authors stress that terrorist access to this market is rather difficult because the supply channels are tightly controlled by Italian organised criminal groups, who believe that it is not in their best interest to sell firearms to terrorist networks. In the sixth chapter Monique Bruinsma and Toine Spapens provide an overview of the main features of the illicit firearms market in the Netherlands as well as an in depth analysis of terrorist access to this market and Dutch policies that have been developed to tackle this access. This chapter demonstrates the increased availability and criminal use of military-grade assault rifles in the country in recent years. This has partly been a result of trafficking of easy-to-reactivate firearms from Slovakia. Not only criminals, but also terrorists have been able to access the illicit firearms market in the Netherlands. In recent years the Dutch police have arrested at least fifteen terror suspects for the illegal possession or (attempted) acquisition of firearms. An in-depth analysis indicates that a broad range of firearms have been seized in these cases and demonstrates a firearms acquisition pattern for terrorists in which (usually pre-existing) criminal connections are crucial. The seventh chapter contains the first ever in-depth study on the illicit firearms market in Romania. Roxana Albisteanu, Alexandru Dena and Matthew Lewis note that researching this topic in Romania is hindered by the lack of uniform data collection and registration procedures on illicit firearms possession or use by the different law enforcement and other government agencies involved. Despite this caveat, the authors clearly demonstrate the detrimental effects of national legal loopholes on regional illicit firearms markets: the significant availability of easy-toconvert blank firing firearms in Romania is directly connected to the situation in Bulgaria, where these weapons can be bought legally for low prices and where controls can easily be bypassed. This has resulted in significant cross-border smuggling of these weapons into Romania where they are sold to Romanian criminals across the country and in various criminal contexts. While there are no known recent cases of terrorist acquisition of firearms in the country, the authors warn that some of the firearms that are currently legally exported from Romania and EU member states to third countries might eventually end up on criminal markets in the EU, where they can be bought by local terrorists. In the eighth chapter Paul Holtom, Paul James and Connor Patmore analyse terrorist access to the illicit firearms market in the United Kingdom (UK). The authors demonstrate that the combination of a restrictive legislative framework for legal firearms possession, a proactive operational 'investigate the gun' - approach to combat illicit possession and use of firearms, and the use of tough prison sentences as a deterrent, has had a positive influence on the illicit firearms markets in the UK. The firearms that circulate in the UK's criminal underground are therefore very often converted blank firing weapons and antique handguns rather than more heavy duty variants seen elsewhere. The recent cases of terrorist possession of firearms suggest that the access of jihadi and right-wing terrorists to the illicit firearms market is likewise quite restricted. These terrorists' options are largely restricted to converted or antique firearms. They do not usually have access to the semi-automatic or automatic firearms that have been used in terrorist attacks in other parts of the EU. The findings of this chapter, however, indicate that the situation in Northern Ireland differs significantly, with Republican splinter groups having retained a wide range of legacy weapons from the 'Troubles', including different types of military-grade firearms, and continuing to use them in politically motivated attacks. The illicit proliferation of firearms in Northern Africa is the focus of the ninth chapter of this book. Francesco Strazzari and Francesca Zampagni argue that in recent years illicit firearms possession has increased significantly in several Northern African countries as a direct result of the volatile political and security situation in the region. In particular the fall of the Libyan dictator Qaddafi in 2011 and the armed violence that has ravaged the country afterwards has significantly increased illicit arms trafficking. A vast regional black market in firearms has emerged which has reached various groups from the western Sahel to the Middle East. The authors conclude that while significant firearms trafficking from Northern Africa into the EU has not been detected so far, the absence of an effective and efficient firearms and ammunition management system in Northern Africa increases the risk of firearms diversion. In the final chapter of this book Francesco Buscemi, Nils Duquet, Ekaterina Golovko and Eric Woods analyse the proliferation of firearms in conflict-affected Ukraine, where the number of illicitly-held firearms surpasses the number of legally held firearms. While several historical factors have contributed to high levels of illicit East. The authors conclude that while significant firearms trafficking from Northern Africa into the EU has not been detected so far, the absence of an effective and efficient firearms and ammunition management system in Northern Africa increases the risk of firearms diversion. In the final chapter of this book Francesco Buscemi, Nils Duquet, Ekaterina Golovko and Eric Woods analyse the proliferation of firearms in conflict-affected Ukraine, where the number of illicitly-held firearms surpasses the number of legally held firearms. While several historical factors have contributed to high levels of illicit firearms possession, the authors demonstrate that criminal activities and the recent episodes of armed violence in the country have significantly exacerbated opportunities for state stockpile captures and arms transfers to different non-state actors. While most of the firearms trafficking is currently contained within the state borders of Ukraine, the authors warn that there are signs that this will likely change when the armed conflict stabilizes and the internal demand for these weapons decreases. Details: Brussels: Flemish Peace Institute, 2018. 484p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2018 at http://www.flemishpeaceinstitute.eu/sites/vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu/files/wysiwyg/boek_safte_bw_lowres.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Europe URL: http://www.flemishpeaceinstitute.eu/sites/vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu/files/wysiwyg/boek_safte_bw_lowres.pdf Shelf Number: 149844 Keywords: FirearmsGun MarketsIllicit Firearms Smuggling of FirearmsTerrorism Terrorists Trafficking in Firearms Trafficking in Weapons |
Author: Morgan, Anthony Title: Impact of ballistic evidence on criminal investigations Summary: The challenges associated with investigating serious crime, particularly organised crime, are well known. Increasingly, police are turning to new information technologies to support traditional investigative techniques. Automated ballistic information technology allows police to link cases that would otherwise not be known to be related. By linking investigations, police can identify new leads and suspects. The current study used interviews with investigators in two states to understand what impact ballistic evidence has on criminal investigations into firearm crime. The results revealed a significant number of cases benefited from linked investigations- including cold cases and cases involving organized crime groups. This research helps to demonstrate the potential value of technology to law enforcement, and the circumstances in which it is most effective. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 548: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi548 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi548 Shelf Number: 150330 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsFirearmsForensic EvidenceGun ViolenceGuns-Related ViolenceHomicidesOrganized Crime |
Author: Devitt Westley, Christine Title: Examining the recidivism of firearm offenders using state criminal history and mortality data Summary: The scourge of gun violence in our streets, schools, places of worship, workplaces, and entertainment venues around the nation has created a sense of urgency to find prevention and intervention strategies. Research is scarce, however, in part due to decades-long Congressional limits on federal funding to support U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention research on firearm-related topics (Sofer, 2017). This study was conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of state criminal history records for examining recidivism of specific criminal justice populations, in this case, gun offenders. Besides gathering information on repeat offending through criminal history and prison records, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers obtained state death records of deceased individuals in the study sample. These records provided detail on the cause and manner of death not available in criminal justice administrative data. Together, these findings offer relevant insights into first-time firearm-involved arrestees, their recidivism patterns and mortality rates, and inform policy and practice on the issue of guns and violence. Details: Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2018. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2018 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Firearm_study_report_073118.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Firearm_study_report_073118.pdf Shelf Number: 151265 Keywords: FirearmsGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesRecidivism |
Author: Amaya, Jessica Title: California Gun Laws: A Model For The Rest Of the Nation? Summary: The highly publicized mass shootings that have taken place over the past three years have brought about the issue of gun control at the federal level as well as the state level. In 2011, Gabrielle Gifford, former congresswoman, was a victim of a shooting in Tucson, Arizona. A year later on July 20, 2012, James Holmes opened fire on a group of people inside a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killing twelve and injuring fifty. Five months later, December 20, 2012, Adam Lanza went to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and killed twenty children and seven adults. The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School took the entire nation by surprise due to the sheer brutality and the loss of innocent lives. These events pushed gun control to the forefront of politician's agendas. President Obama responded by signing twenty three executive orders to address gun violence in the United States. California politicians believed the shootings that happened in Connecticut, Colorado and Arizona could happen in their state as well, so they made it their mission to combat gun violence with legislation. California has led the charge against gun violence by having the most comprehensive gun laws in the United States. California has implemented background checks on all firearm purchase, a ten day waiting period, firearm registration, assault weapons ban as well as a certified list of safe handguns. There were seventeen different gun control measures that were introduced in the 2012-2013 legislative session, with ten that were signed into law. Gun control measures that have been passed over the last 25 years were intended to help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, reduce violent crimes such as homicide, suicide, assaults, and unintended fatalities as well as prevent accidents. Certain California legislative measures regarding gun control are not accomplishing their goals of reducing violent crime and saving lives, rather they are placing an undue burden on the citizens and their Second Amendment rights. When a difficult problem arises in society, there are certain steps legislators can take to address the issue. The first step is problem identification. The second step is to find the cause of the problem, then find various to correct the issue. The last step is to find alternative solutions and then implement the best plan. To understand if gun control is working in California, this paper will first look at violent crimes perpetrated by criminals through the use of firearms. After thorough examination of the problem, the paper will then analyze the causes of violent crimes and then analyze current federal legislation and California legislation that creates a framework for how firearms are regulated today. With an understanding the problem California faces with violent crime and the solutions that are in place; this paper will then examine how the Second Amendment plays a role in shaping the gun control debate, through various court cases. Policy proposals will then be given after thorough analysis of acquired research materials. Details: Rocklin, CA: William Jessup University, 2014. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2018 at: http://my.jessup.edu/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2014/05/Amaya_Sen-Sem.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://my.jessup.edu/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2014/05/Amaya_Sen-Sem.pdf Shelf Number: 153522 Keywords: FirearmsGun Control Policy Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence |
Author: Browne, Bill Title: Point Blank: Political strategies of Australia's gun lobby Summary: The Australian public supports stronger gun control and stricter restrictions and laws on firearms. Despite this, there is a real danger of our firearm laws being watered down. Successive inquiries have found that no state or territory has ever fully complied with the National Firearms Agreement. The public will on firearms is being circumvented because firearms interest groups have made a concerted effort to undermine these laws and loosen state-level gun controls. These groups include firearms suppliers and their peak bodies, members' associations like shooting and hunting clubs, and gun advocates who operate more informally. Either operating independently or together, these organisations have made significant political donations, run campaigns to influence voters and encouraged the election of pro-gun cross-benchers. The Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA), the peak body for Australia's five largest firearms suppliers, spends roughly the same amount of money, again as a share of population, on political campaigning as the National Rifle Association (the NRA) does in the United States. The Australian gun lobby runs political campaigns and lobbies politicians and journalists, but it attracts little attention in Australia because it keeps its operations low key. Gun lobby political advertising in recent years has mostly avoided mentioning firearms or gun control at all. Australians are probably more familiar with the NRA than Australia's equivalents, even though relative to population Australia's gun lobby is of a similar size and funding to the NRA. This report provides an account of the political strategies of the gun lobby. Details: Manuka, ACT: The Australia Institute, 2019. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion paper: Accessed March 27, 2019 at: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/default/files/P598%20Point%20blank%20%5BWeb%5D.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/default/files/P598%20Point%20blank%20%5BWeb%5D.pdf Shelf Number: 155190 Keywords: FirearmsGun ControlGun Policy |
Author: Hideg, Gergely Title: Darkening Horizons: Global Violent Deaths Scenarios, 2018-30 Summary: This Briefing Paper analyses trends in global violent deaths based on data updated to 2017, which provides a benchmark for the scenarios for the period 2018-30 that constitute the main focus of the paper. The year 2017 was characterized by a marked increase in lethal violence, primarily due to a rise in homicides (that is, non-conflict deaths). The paper presents three different, but plausible scenarios reflecting possible trends in global violent deaths in the period 2018-30. These are: (1) a 'business-as-usual' scenario, where international efforts to reduce lethal violence continue as at present; (2) a positive scenario, where concerted efforts lead to reductions in global violent death rates; and (3) a negative scenario, where inaction and escalating lethal violence cause a significant increase in global violent death rates. All three scenarios are derived from longer-term trends and underline the need for policy-makers to renew efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 16.1. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Small Arms Survey, 2019. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2019 at: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/darkening-horizons-global-violent-deaths-scenarios-2018-30 Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SAS-BP-Violent-Deaths-Scenarios.pdf Shelf Number: 156084 Keywords: Arms TraffickingFirearmsHomicideLethal ViolenceSmall ArmsViolent CrimeViolent Deaths |
Author: Dempsey, Catherine L. Title: Association of Firearm Ownership, Use, Accessibility, and Storage Practices with Suicide Risk Among US Army Soldiers Summary: Importance: Since 2004, the suicide rate among US Army soldiers has exceeded the rate of death from combat injury. It is critical to establish factors that increase the risk of acting on suicidal thoughts to guide early intervention and suicide prevention. Objective: To assess whether firearm ownership, use, storage practices, and accessibility are associated with increased risk of suicide. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this case-control study, suicide cases (n = 135) were defined as US Army soldiers who died by suicide while on active duty between August 1, 2011, and November 1, 2013. Next-of-kin and Army supervisors of soldiers who died by suicide (n = 168) were compared with propensity-matched controls (n = 137); those soldiers with a suicidal ideation in the past year (n = 118) provided structured interview data. Data were analyzed from April 5, 2018, to April 2, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Firearm ownership, storage, and accessibility were assessed by using items from the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview screening scales along with items created for the purpose of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) study. Results: Among the 135 suicide decedents, next-of-kin reported that they had greater accessibility to firearms compared with propensity-matched controls. Specifically, suicide decedents were more likely to own 1 or more handguns compared with propensity-matched controls (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.7; x21 = 4.2; false discovery rate [FDR] P = .08), store a loaded gun at home (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.9-9.1; x21 = 12.2; FDR P = .003), and publicly carry a gun when not required for military duty (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.4-7.3; x21 = 7.4; FDR P = .02). The combination of these 3 items was associated with a 3-fold increase in the odds of suicide death (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.2-9.4; x21 = 5.4; FDR P = .05). Storing a loaded gun with ammunition at home or publicly carrying a gun when not on duty was associated with a 4-fold increase in the odds of suicide death (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.9-7.9; x21 = 14.1; FDR P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, in addition to gun ownership, ease and immediacy of firearm access were associated with increased suicide risk. Discussion with family members and supervisors about limiting firearm accessibility should be evaluated for potential intervention. Details: Chicago, Illinois: The Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), 2019. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2019 at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2735465 Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2735465 Shelf Number: 156388 Keywords: Case StudyFirearm OwnershipFirearmsGun ViolenceMental HealthSuicide RiskVeterans |